ENG-1974 — Page 194

PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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A firm of specialist consultants was employed to report on current and future requirements for quarry products and to recommend locations for new quarry sites to meet requirements up to 1990.

The materials testing laboratories operated by the quarries section of the civil engineering office of the Public Works Department carried out 97,030 tests on build- ing materials, of which 10,974 were for private firms.

The civil engineering office also continued to operate the sand monopoly, supply- ing building sand for sale to the public at various depots throughout Hong Kong.

Public Utilities

Electricity

Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma are supplied with electricity by the Hongkong Electric Company while Kowloon and the New Territories-including Lantau and a number of outlying islands-receive their supply from the China Light and Power Company. The island of Cheung Chau is served by the Cheung Chau Electric Company. In addition, minor enterprises such as some village co-operatives produce current for certain remote localities.

The three companies are investor-owned, and do not operate under a franchise. However, the government does exercise a measure of financial control over the two main undertakings.

Generation of electricity for Kowloon, the New Territories and several outlying islands is carried out partly by the China Light and Power Company and partly by Peninsula Electric Power Company, an enterprise financed 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by China Light. It owns the power stations at Tsing Yi (962 MW) and Hok Un 'C' (240 MW). Operation of these plants is in the hands of China Light, which also has its own station Hok Un ‘A' and 'B' (410 MW) and a number of diesel sets (6MW). At Tsing Yi Island, an additional capacity of 600 MW is due to be installed by 1977.

Hongkong Electric has generating stations at North Point (271 MW) and Ap Lei Chau (380 MW). Therefore, including Cheung Chau's 5 MW, there is a combined capacity of 2,274 MW.

Transmission is carried out at 132 kV and 66 kV, while distribution is effected mainly at 33 kV, 11 kV and 346 volts. The supply is 50 hertz alternating current, normally at 200 volts single-phase or 346 volts three-phase. For bulk consumers, supply is available at 33 kV and 11 kV. Safety aspects are covered by an Electricity Supply Ordinance.

Early in the year, the price of fuel oil rose dramatically to about four times its former level, bringing about a substantial increase in the fuel cost adjustment which forms part of the electricity tariff. Also, since fuel oil was in short supply for the first few months of the year the government had to impose certain restrictions on the use of electricity, but was able to lift these toward the end of May as the supply situation improved.