ENG-1982 — Page 228

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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

supplies to San Tin, Pat Heung, Sheung Shui, Sai Kung and Cheung Chau. The project for Lamma Island water supply was in progress, and works for the provision of water supply to the Hong Kong Electric power station on the island were completed. In addition, construction work on the new tunnel and pipeline system as a further development of the East River Scheme progressed well and should be completed early in 1983. The laying of the new cross-harbour main from Kowloon to Hong Kong also commenced.

In the computerised water billing and information system, data were added to include details of water deposits. Consideration was being given to the type of additional management information which the system would produce.

Electricity

Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma are supplied with electricity by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited, while Kowloon and the New Territories - including Lantau and a number of outlying islands -- receive supplies from the China Light and Power Company Limited. The island of Cheung Chau is served by the Cheung Chau Electric Company Limited. The three companies are investor-owned and do not operate under franchise. However, the government does exercise a measure of control over the tariff charges and profit of the two main undertakings.

Generation of electricity is carried out by China Light and Power Company and its associated companies, Peninsula Electric Power Company Limited (PEPCO) and Kowloon Electricity Supply Company Limited (KESCO). Both PEPCO and KESCO are financed 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by China Light.

PEPCO owns the power stations at Tsing Yi 'A' (762 MW), Tsing Yi 'B' (800 MW) and Hok Un 'C' (240 MW). KESCO owns 504 MW of gas turbine capacity and is constructing the Castle Peak 'A' power station. The first dual coal/oil-fired 350 MW unit at Castle Peak 'A' was commissioned during 1982; the remaining three 350 MW units at this station will be commissioned between 1983 and 1985. Operation of the plants owned by PEPCO and KESCO is in the hands of China Light, which also has its own stations - Hok Un 'A' and 'B' (total 350 MW). The combined capacity of China Light, PEPCO and KESCO at the end of 1982 was 3 006 MW.

The British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher, officiated at the opening ceremony of Castle Peak 'A' station and its associated 400 kV transmission system on September 28, 1982.

Castle Peak 'B' station, adjacent to the 'A' station, will have four 660 MW coal-fired units, scheduled to be commissioned between 1986 and 1990. A new company, Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO), has been incorporated to own the station. Shares in this new company are held 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by China Light, the same arrangement as adopted for PEPCO and KESCO. The Castle Peak 'A' and 'B' stations, with an ultimate capacity of over 4 000 MW, will be the largest power station complex in Southeast Asia. The use of coal as the primary fuel for both stations is expected to reduce operating costs and will be a direct benefit to consumers. Transmission is carried out at 400 kV, 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.

Work continued during the year on the staged development of an extra-high voltage transmission system to transmit power from the Castle Peak power stations to the various load centres. The new network, at 400 kV, will comprise 87 kilometres of double-circuit overhead line encircling the New Territories, 14 kilometres of cables and six extra-high