ENG-1966 — Page 248

182

PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

on Hong Kong Island. This extension is the first phase of a scheme to supply town gas to the Repulse Bay area. Liquefied petroleum gas (or bottled gas) is offered to customers who are not within reach of the town gas supply.

Town gas production is centred at Ma Tau Kok in Kowloon, and Hong Kong Island is supplied by two submarine gas mains across the harbour. The total installed production capacity of the Ma Tau Kok station is 7 million cubic feet per day. A new 3.5 million cubic feet per day plant will be commissioned during 1967, bringing the total installed capacity to 10.5 million cubic feet per day. The industrial town of Tsuen Wan is supplied by an independent station of 900,000 cubic feet per day capacity. In addition to dealing with normal, maintenance calls, the company provides a 24-hour emergency service.

Gas is sold on a thermal basis (1 therm-100,000 British thermal units). The calorific value of town gas in the urban area is 455 British thermal units per cubic foot. However, in the Tsuen Wan area the calorific value is 650 British thermal units per cubic foot. The gas tariff incorporates a standing charge which is dependent upon the size of meter installed. This standing charge includes the cost of the first three therms of gas consumed. The scale of charges is as follows:

First 3 therms Next 7 therms (up to Next 40 therms (up to

$10.60 or $24.10

10 therms)

2.86 per therm

50 therms)

2.81

55

Next 75 therms (up to

125 therms)

2.74

Next 125 therms (up to

250 therms)

2.62

Next 250 therms (up to

500 therms)

2.51

35

27

Next 500 therms (up to 1,000 therms) Consumption over 1,000 therms

2.40

99

>>

55

2.30,

Special rates are offered on an individual basis for large in- dustrial and commercial consumers. The total quantity of gas sold in 1966 was 1,384 million cubic feet (6.3 million therms) compared with 1,245 million cubic feet (5.7 million therms) in 1965. The number of consumers rose from 21,219 to 23,124.