ENG-1957 — Page 292

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Approximately 484,306,934 units of electricity were generated during the financial year 1956-7, of which 422,517,543 units were sold. Total sales (in units) were as follows:

Lighting

Public Lighting

Power

Bulk Supply

85,454,677

2,936,349

134,990,094

199,136,423

422,517,543

In September 1956 the Company had 80,474 consumers. By October 1957 the number had risen to 95,028, an increase of 18%.

Charges for electricity (per unit) are :

Lighting

Power

Domestic Power

Kowloon New Territories

29 cents

37 cents

14 cents

14 cents

13 cents

13 cents-

These rates are subject to a variable fuel surcharge. The rate of 9% in operation at the beginning of the year was

• increased to 18% on 1st March and reduced to 15% on 1st August. Special rates are available for large industrial

consumers.

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The only part of the New Territories to have its independ- ent source of electric light is Cheung Chau, where there has been an electric power station in existence since 1913. Originally started as a community project, it later sold out to commercial interests and has since changed hands several times. The present owners, the Cheung Chau Electric Co., Ltd., have their offices in Victoria. The basic rate as from 1st March, 1956, is 95 cents a unit for lighting and 45 cents a unit for domestic and commercial power, with special reductions for larger consumers.

Gas. Gas is supplied on both sides of the harbour by The Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. which was first