NPN. Construction of overhead cables in Tuen Mun New Town, 1970s

Transcription

1 !"#$%&'(=!"# Construction of overhead cables in Tuen Mun New Town, 1970s =!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&#$'"#$()*!"#$%&'()*+,!-./!"#$%&'()!*+,-./'( The fishing village at Tuen Mun was a famous historical site in southern China with over 1,000 years history!"#$% &'(')*+,-!"#$%$&'()* +,!"#$%&'()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,-.'!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+'(,$!"#$%&'() *+,-.!"#$%&'(!)*+,-.!"#!$%&'()*+,!-!"#$%&!'() NPN

2 01 Reclamation work at Tuen Mun and San Fat Estate, 1970s Section 2 Tuen Mun Chapter 2 Originally a fishing village surrounded by farmlands, Tuen Mun had poor transportation facilities. In the past the only road that linked Tuen Mun with Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan was Castle Peak Road. People had to transport agricultural products for sale from Tuen Mun to Yuen Long, Kowloon and Sai Wan. Mr. Cheung Kam Hung of Ching Chung Koon remembers how in the past, Tuen Mun was divided into the old town village and the new town village. The old town village referred to the area around the pier, while the new town village referred to the present day city centre. The market days of Tuen Mun were the 1st, 4th and 7th days in the lunar calendar, and those for Yuen Long were the 3rd, 6th and 9th days. When it was a market day, people would flock to the market. At that time there were no refrigerators, and the meat for sale in the market was preserved by salt. So the people called it salted meat. Mr. Tang Tung Chiu of Tuen Mun Rural Committee describes the ups and downs of Tuen Mun. The location of the committee offices today was once a salt-making site. It was still in use until the end of World War II. Before the war, only the market places of Yuen Long and Tuen Mun had electricity supply. In the early 1950s, the electricity supply to Tuen Mun town was restored. But many shops rarely turned on their lights in order to save money. However, electricity promoted the development of commerce and industry. In what is now Chi Lok Gardens, there were more than 10 shops and one restaurant.!"#$%&'() Tuen Mun Old Market, early 1970s NPO

3 !"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'( )!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-."!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()#$*+),-!"#$%&'()*$+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*+!"#$%&!'()!"#$%&'()*+!"#$%&'()*+!"# $%!"#$%&'!"#$%&'()*#+,- pí~ääé=~åç=êéäá~ääé=éçïéê=ëìééäó=ñêçã=`~ëíäé=mé~â=mçïéê=pí~íáçåi=qìéå=jìå NPP

4 Known by others as Uncle Ninth, Mr. Lau Chi Ping is the chief of the Lung Kwu Tan Village. He once owned a herbal shop in the new market of Tuen Mun. There had been electricity supply before the war. The first electric fan and gramophone were installed in his shop, and another shop installed the first radio in the region. Section 2 Chapter 2!"#$ Overview of Castle Peak Power Station Lung Kwu Tan as a whole got electricity in the 1970s when power supply reached the place. Uncle Ninth was the first to use electricity in the village. He once managed the business of ferrying people to Hong Kong. He also had some knowledge of electrical appliances. Hence he soon had in his home a radio, electric lamps and a refrigerator (first using a kerosene refrigerator, then an electric one). Uncle Ninth was very pleased with the supply of electricity and appreciated its convenience to his daily life. However, at the beginning not all people accepted the use of electricity. Later, when they understood its advantages, electricity became more popular '-7(89 Tai Lam Chung Reservoir during its construction in 1957 with the power supply by CLP, it also helped improve power supply to Tuen Mun NPQ

5 !"#$%&"'()!"#$%&'( )!"#$%&'() "!"#$%&'()*+,-,.!"#$%&'()*$+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'(#)*&+,-!"#$%!"#$%&'()*+,-#.!"#$%&'()*+%&',!"#$ 0123 Lord Kadoorie visiting Lung Kwu Tan Village with Mr. Lau Wong Fat, 1969 NPR!"#$%& Overview of Black Point Power Station

6 Mr. Lau Wong-Fat, GBS JP, made a great contribution to the development of electrification in Tuen Mun and the whole New Territories from the 1960s onward. He fully supported the Rural Electrification Scheme in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1978 CLP built its first power station at Tap Shek Kok. The site was selected because the water there was deep enough for transport vessels. After the erection of the power station, there were monthly meetings between CLP and the district council to discuss problems like environmental pollution. The second power station was also situated at the same location. The construction of the power station improved transportation and development of industry and commerce. Section 2 Chapter 2 At that time some conservative people objected to the construction work. They claimed that the work would affect the feng-shui of the place. In fact, very few places were affected. Mr. Lau also points out how the power station promoted the advancement of the community and increased communication between local residents and outside regions. Also there were more chances for young people in Tuen Mun to receive education. Hence the number of university graduates also increased rapidly.!"#$%&'()*+,-#./( #678 9 The construction of Castle Peak Power Station helped improve transportation in Tuen Mun; it also helped in the development of the district s industry and commerce NPS

7 !"#$%&' ()!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$% &'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()'*+,-%!"#$%&'()*+,-'.!"#$%&'()*+, -.!"#$%&'()*+&#,*!"#$%&'()*+,!!!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$ %& '()**+,!"#$%&!"#$%&'()*+!(,- Watering of the plants relied on electric pumps 0123"&' Castle Peak Wholesale Fish Market at Tuen Mun was the biggest of its kind in western coastal region Hong Kong!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#=!"#$%&'(!"#$%&'()*+(,-./!"#$%&'()*+!, -!"#$%&'()*+,-)*!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$ NPT

8 0123 Uncle Chik s business of livestock breeding in the 1960s was famous among its kind in the New Territories For the fishermen, the coming of electricity brought a lot of advantages. Mr. So Siu Shing of Tuen Mun District Council tells a vivid story. In the past the whole of Castle Peak Road ran along the seashore. The area that is now Kei Lun Park was acquired through later reclamation. Fishing was the major industry of the area. Fish and shrimp stalls were common and business was very good. However, before the 1960s there was no electricity supply. The stalls used gas lamps for illumination. There was a small wooden pier near the stalls. Since the large boats could not come close to the shore, people had to use small boats to transport the catch. Then the catches had to be sorted by hand into wooden containers which were carried ashore by hooks and pulleys. In winter, people had to work under very hard conditions. Finally in the 1970s, electricity reached the area. The use of electric lamps and electric motors greatly reduced the heavy labour of the workers. Apart from the fishing industry, electricity also greatly benefited agriculture. Known as Uncle Chik, Mr. Leung Chik of the Livestock Breeding Workers Association has vivid memories of these times. Uncle Chik describes the 1950s as the Age of Illumination. Electric pumps and electric lamps greatly assisted the development of the livestock breeding industry. Electric pumps provided farmlands with sufficient water supply. Electricity also helped improve the breeding of chickens. After using electrical appliances to heat the water and cook meals, people s lives became easier and the rural areas became cleaner. Dirty sights, caused in the past by the burning of wood, are no longer seen now. Section 2 Chapter 2!"#$%&'()*+,-. Castle Peak Road at Tuen Mun in the 1970s, nearly uncultivated NPU

9 !"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()!"#$#%&'()*#+,-!"#$!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$"%&'(")*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-!.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+, -!"#$%&'()*+,#-!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'() *!"#$%&'( Household interior in the 1970s NPV

10 Mr. Gwu Hon Keung of the Tuen Mun District Council has a special affection for electricity. Mr. Gwu has been working with water supply technicians and with electrical appliances since the 1960s. After one year of practice, he started to assist CLP maintenance technicians voluntarily in repairing electrical devices and hence got to travel throughout Kowloon and the New Territories. Mr. Gwu finally got a licence from CLP in the 1970s to become a qualified electrical technician. Mr. Gwu attests to the improvement in people s living standards since he began his job in water and electrical maintenance. The range and quality of appliances advanced rapidly and diversified, especially after Japanese products entered the market. In the past people would try to get the maximum use from electrical appliances. Later when they had more choices, they would throw away electrical appliances once they broke down. Hence, people s standard of living rose, in line with economic development and the progress of the community. Section 2 Chapter 2 In 1967 TVB broadcasts started, and electricity consumption in Tuen Mun increased rapidly. But the people at that time were very thrifty; television sets would not be left on for a long time. They would wait until the whole family was back home to watch television. Since the 1970s, the use of electrical appliances has increased a lot. As living conditions have improved, the risk of fire has also been reduced.!"#$%&'()*#+,-./012 A 1961 advertisement for electric rice cookers illustrates the increasing use of electricity NQM