Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited is the listed vehicle of the Hongkong Electric Group of companies, comprising The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited (HEC), Hongkong Electric International Limited (HEI), Associated Technical Services Limited (ATS) and a number of minor subsidiaries.

The Hongkong Electric Company Limited
Hongkong Electric, the sole supplier of electricity to Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, has been operating since 1890.

Today, the Company supplies electricity to more than 560,000 customers and is continually planning to keep pace with the energy needs of Hong Kong.

Generation
Hongkong Electric's power station, situated on Lamma Island, has been meeting all the company's generation needs since 1990.

The Lamma Power Station and its extension feature a total installed capacity of 3,756 MW with eight coal-fired units, five gas turbines, two combined cycle units and a wind turbine.

The generating units are designed for coal/oil and gas/oil firing to maintain flexibility in fuel selection. With the first gas-fired combined cycle unit putting in commercial operation in mid-October 2006, 15 per cent of the electricity generated from the Lamma Power Station is fuelled by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Hong Kong's first commercial-scale wind power station, Lamma Winds - a pioneer in the use of renewable energy in the territory - was commissioned on 23 February 2006. Since its inception, the wind turbine has produced more than 1,500 MWh electricity (as at 31 December 2007), representing an offset of 1,300 metric tonnes of CO₂ emission.

Transmission and Distribution
The power generated at Lamma Power Station is transmitted under the East Lamma Channel to Hong Kong Island via one of the world's highest-capacity submarine cables networks.

For environmental and operational reasons, most of the cables on Hong Kong and Lamma islands are underground.  Where cable-laying might cause serious disruption or affect the environment, the company builds cable tunnels, which are serviced by battery-operated vehicles. There are currently six cable tunnels: the 3.1 km Wah Fu-Bowen Cable Tunnel and the 5.7 km Nam Fung-Parker Cable Tunnel are both serviced by battery-operated vehicles. The other four are the Tin Wan-Wah Fu Cable Tunnel and Cyberport-Wah Fu Cable Tunnel, both of about 0.8 km, Yung Shue Wan Cable Tunnel of about 0.2 km and Pak Kok Tsui Cable Tunnel of about 0.1 km.

Generation, transmission and distribution are controlled at the computerised System Control Centre, which ensures safe, efficient and secure delivery of power via more than 3,500 substations.

Environmental Protection
Hongkong Electric's team of environmental engineers and chemists uses state-of-the-art technology to monitor, control and minimise environmental impacts.

For instance, at Lamma Power Station, electrostatic precipitators clean more than 99 per cent of the fly ash from flue gas before it is discharged.  Low sulphur coal is used, coal dust is suppressed and newer generating units are fitted with Hong Kong's first flue-gas desulphurisation system - able to remove over 90 per cent of the sulphur dioxide produced by combustion.  Air monitoring stations on Hong Kong Island allow continual monitoring of the station's impact on ambient air quality.

Noise pollution is minimised with insulation materials and the use of quiet equipment such as transformers, motors and fans.  The company continuously monitors its noise at Lamma Power Station to ensure that the impact on surrounding areas is acceptable.

Waste water is reused as far as possible. Unreusable effluents and sewage are treated at Lamma Power Station to the acceptable standard before they are discharged into the sea. Chemists regularly take sea water samples from around the coast of the power station to check the effectiveness of these environmental protection measures.

Customer Services
Hongkong Electric strives for excellence in serving its customers, including minority groups. Since 1993, the company has demonstrated this commitment by publishing service pledges.  These cover, for instance, supply reliability, waiting time for counter and telephone services, response time to emergency calls and lead time for connection of supply.

There are also concessionary tariffs for the elderly, disabled, unemployed and single-parent families, large-font bills and booklets for the elderly, Braille bills and brochures for the visually impaired, SMS enquiry service for the hearing-impaired and special counter facilities for disabled customers.

Hongkong Electric International Limited
In early 1997, Hongkong Electric International Ltd. (HEI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited (HEH) was founded to enhance value for shareholders and investors by pursuing new business opportunities outside Hong Kong.

HEI's core business covers investment in power generation, transmission and distribution as well as other power related investment. Currently, HEI has acquired interests in three power distribution companies in Australia, a gas distribution network in the UK, a portfolio of six coal-fired and gas-fired power plants in Canada, as well as a gas-fired power plant in Thailand.

Associated Technical Services Limited
Established in 1975, Associated Technical Services Limited (ATS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HEH. It has developed into a versatile multi-discipline engineering firm, offering a full range of professional consultancy and engineering services. The Company has completed over 200 projects worldwide covering such areas as thermal power plants, substations, and land and submarine cabling.

Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited
Hongkong Electric Centre
44 Kennedy Road
Hong Kong
Telephone: (852) 2843 3111
Fax: (852) 2810 0506
Website: www.heh.com

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