Update: Wind Farm in Sai Kung

Following my previous headlines on building a wind farm in Sai Kung on 20 February; today, the SCMP reported that CLP will assess the feasibility of the wind farm. However, the project will cost at least USD 300 million, much higher than the costs overseas experiences have shown (approximately USD 2 to 2.5 million per megawatt). The high cost is mainly due to the high piling costs in Hong Kong deep waters.

Following the news last month that Wind Prospect had approached CLP for possible participation in such a project, a CLP spokeswoman said the two companies would evaluate a proposal to erect 30 to 50 wind turbines of 3MW capacity each off the Ninepin, or Kwo Chau, Islands.

Wind power would be distributed via undersea cable to CLP's power grid serving Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau, with potential coverage of about 73,500 families, or a population of 294,000, the CLP spokeswoman said....

The economic efficiency of wind power project varies. Turbines in Hong Kong will be estimated to work for about 20 to 22 percent of the time, compared to 40 percent on average in Tasmania, a leading consumer of wind and hydro energy.

Hong Kong's deep waters mean high piling costs, while support vessels would be needed to transport maintenance staff to the turbines, the engineer said.

Source: Denise Tsang and Cheung Chi-Fai, 'CLP to assess feasibility of wind farm', SCMP 24 March 2006.

People's: Putting staff at risk, fined

The mobile phone network provider, People's, has been fined HKD 2,000 for poorly positioning workers' computer keyboards and monitors, which could cause repetitive strain injuries.

The SCMP reported today, People's was prosecuted under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance - the first time such a penalty has been imposed in Hong Kong. The government explained that People's was penalised after inspectors found the staff's workstations were unappropriate and have lots of room for improvement.

People's was not available for comment.

Last year, the Hong Kong Labour Department made 409 office-safety inspections, resulting in it issuing 144 warning letters and 24 notices telling employers to improve their work environments.

Source: "In legal first, firm fined $2,000 for exposing staff to risk of RSI", SCMP 5 March 2006.