ENG-1956 — Page 251

204

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

main roads. The load continues to grow steadily each year, and during 1956 there were more demands than ever from both industrial and domestic consumers. The increase in demand is principally caused by new urban and industrial development, the demolition of old buildings and their re- placement by larger modern structures. 393 factories were connected to the Company's mains.

This expansion has required the planning of a new power station, the building of which will be carried out in stages. One turbine has been erected and will be commissioned shortly, and work has begun on the erection of one boiler. Further turbines, boilers, transformers and switchgear have been ordered in connexion with the project, and erection will begin by the middle of 1957.

The present capacity of the station is 82,500 kw., but this will be considerably increased on completion of the schemes now under way.

Approximately 437,300,000 units of electricity were gener- ated during the financial year 1955-56, of which 380,506,016 units were sold. Total sales (in units) were as follows:

Lighting

Public lighting

Power

Bulk supply

76,615,853

2,746,416

120,010,293

181,133,454

380,506,016

In September 1955 the Company had 65,412 consumers. By October 1956 the number had risen to 80,474, an increase of 23%.

Charges for electricity (per unit) at 1st January, 1957,

are:

Kowloon New Territories

Lighting

Power

29c.

37c.

14c.

14c.

Domestic Power

13c.

13c.