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1 !"#$ NVPNJNVQN!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()!!"#$%&'(')!"#$%&'()*+,-.&!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()"*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,*-,!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%!"#$%&'()*#+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-./0!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./0!"#$%&'()*+,-./+!"#$%&'()*%+,-,!"#$%&'(!)*"+!,!"#$%&!'()*%+,-" PT!"#$%&'()*+,-./01234 The Tai Po phase of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, constructed during 1910, was using small amounts of power

2 Section 1 Lighting up the New Territories ( ) Chapter 3!"#$%&'()*+,-. Pumping station at Shek Lei Pui Reservoir using electric power, 1928 Life in the 1930s was perilous in many parts of Asia with continuing civil war among the provincial warlords in China, and Japan gearing up for invasion. Immigration into what was seen as the safe haven of Hong Kong grew in these years. With this influx came capital and skills. The great worldwide depression began in 1929 but did not at first affect Hong Kong seriously. As a British colony, Hong Kong s industrial products had preferential tariffs within the British Empire, hence increasing their attraction and competitiveness. Entrepot the lifeblood of Hong Kong continued to flourish and new industries such as rubber shoes, garments, spinning and weaving, enamelware and light metal products became established. The year 1931 marked a new era in the development of the New Territories. The coming of the light bulb to the New Territories was like the dawning of a new day to many villagers. Mr. Lau Wan Hei of the Sai Kung Rural Committee recalls the use of bamboos as torches in the old days. The bamboos were chopped down from the hillside, flattened at the ends, dried in the sun for four or five days, immersed in water for a month, and then dried again under sunlight before being used as fire beacons. The light was said to be bright and produced no dark smoke.!"#$%&'() Advertisement of a weaving factory using electric machines, 1934 PU

3 ! " # $ % & déçññêéó=eéêâäçíë!"!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()"*+,-. däçêá~=_~êêéííç!"#$%&'!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+$,-!"!"#$%&'()*+$,-.!"#$%&'!"#$%! "#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'%()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$!"#$%&!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!" #!$%&'()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$ CLP supplying power to construction work of the main dam of Shing Mun Reservoir, 1936 PV

4 According to Dr. Geoffrey Herklots, Mrs. Gloria Barretto, who was also prominently associated in the postwar years with the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association (KAAA), was a long-time resident of the New Territories. She remembers when living in her Fanling home during the 1930s having kerosene lamps because their own domestic generator was so unreliable. The family also had to order a 50- pound block of ice each day from Kowloon for the refrigerator, brought up by the train together with the day s food supplies. Section 1 Chapter 3!"#$%&'()*+,-. Tai Po Market in 1927, where there was still no power supply In 1931 CLP laid high-voltage cables through the Beacon Hill tunnel, together with 2.2 kv overhead lines, supplying electricity to the regions along the railway line, forming the first supply network. CLP was ready to take its next great leap forward to supply electricity to the New Territories, covering Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fanling, Au Tau in Yuen Long, and Tsuen Wan. Even then only a few larger towns could enjoy electricity and most of the New Territories did not benefit from this new development. A major achievement was the laying of high voltage cables in time for the building of the Shing Mun Reservoir, in the Kowloon hills, between 1933 and 1937.!""#$!"#!" CLP s advertisement in Hong Kong Daily Press, 1933 QM

5 !"#$%&'()'!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'(')!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&"'()*+,-"!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*&'+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'($)*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+, QN!"#$%&'() Hok Un Power Station at Hung Hom, 1931

6 !!!!! "# "# "# "# "# $ $ $ %&! %& %& $ "$ ' %& ' ' () () () "! * '( %& * * +, +, +, By now, it was widely recognized that electricity needed close and regular supervision to avoid the dangers of damage and deterioration to installations. The Government in 1931 required anyone possessing electric lamps or cables to have them inspected by CLP staff every five years, with repairs to be effected immediately. Section 1 Chapter 3! "# $ %& ' ) ' # *+ () /./, * -. +, 0 & / ) Light installations were one thing; lifts and elevators were now an increasing feature of high-rise buildings. When Nathan Hotel in Yau Ma Tei opened in 1930, it told its residents: no need to take the stairs when you go up or down. And from the vantage point of your room you might be able to see the towering Alhambra Theatre and gaze on the dazzling electric lamps.!"#$%&'( Advertisements of cinemas during the 1930s QO

7 !"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$!"#$%&!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()! do!"#$%&'()*+!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,#!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%!&'"()*+!"#$%&'()*+,'!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%!&'()*+!"#$%&' QP!!"#$%&'()*+ Headquarters of the Marine Police at Tsim Sha Tsui, built in 1884

8 Hong Kong in its colonial days was always ready to celebrate a right royal occasion and this came in 1937 with the coronation of King George VI. A grand parade was staged in which Kowloon and the New Territories took part, with CLP given responsibility for the lighting. All public places were lit up, but pride of place went to Signal Hill in Tsim Sha Tsui where two 20-foot tall illuminated letters, GR, were set up. Private homes and CLP substations were also festooned with electric lamps, particularly in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok and Kowloon City with 36,000 lamps being used for the occasion. Section 1 Chapter 3!"#$%&'()*+,-. Newspaper report on the coronation of King George VI, 1937 It was Kowloon s last big celebration before the clouds of war loomed on the horizon. Following the Marco Polo Bridge (Lugouqiao) Incident in 1937, Japan launched full-scale war on China and as the invading armies swept south towards Guangdong province, Hong Kong took its own precautions with air raid drills and blackouts. People were asked to switch off all outdoor lights and to cover any lights indoors when the (air raid) alarm is heard.!"#$%&'(!"# Night clubs attracting customers by sexy dance in the dark during the blackout period QQ

9 !"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$ %&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*$+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-"#!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'!"#$%!"# New Administrative Building at Argyle Street, 1951!"#$%&'()*+,-$!"#$%&'($)*+,-.!"#$!%$&'()*+,!"#$%&'( )*#+,-!"#$%&'!()*+,!"#$%!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&' QR!"#$%&'()* CLP advertisement, 1940!"#$%&'()*+,-./01234 Hok Un Power Station was inaugurated by the Governor Sir Geoffrey Northcote in 1940

10 !"#$%&'( CLP Deposit Receipt, 1938 Despite the onset of war which brought alarms and dangers, Hong Kong was striving to maintain its economic development, with many firms and businesses moving from threatened areas in China, together with management and capital. New industries were given a boost, and in 1938 a Hong Kong Products Expo was held to show off the new wares coming from local factories. In these years, Tsuen Wan became a major industrial area, with the opening of breweries, dyeing works and factories producing soya bean products, preserved food, and woven cloth. One of the biggest was the Texas Oil Refinery at Mei Foo. Hong Kong was even supplying war materials to the Chinese armies with the Wah Nam Steelworks opening in 1938; and following the outbreak of war in Europe, Britain turned to Hong Kong for many of the products it could no longer buy from Japan or Europe. All these industrial activities were efficiently supported by the supply of electricity. Another memorable event was the introduction of air conditioning in what was then Hong Kong s largest public hospital Kowloon Hospital. In future, doctors and surgeons would be able to operate in a cool environment for their own and their patients comfort. CLP not only had to expand the capacity of Hok Un, opened by the Governor, Sir Geoffrey Northcote on 26 February 1940, but to plan construction of its well known administrative building at the junction of Argyle Street and Waterloo Road, still in use today. It would be the business centre of the company. A network of cash collection offices were opened around Kowloon for the payment of bills. Clearly the threat of war was no barrier to expansion and growth. Section 1 Chapter 3!"#$ Newspaper report, 1938 QS