In this undated file photo, a resident walks past the CLP Group's logo in Hong Kong. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has received an interim report submitted by CLP Power Hong Kong concerning a power cable incident that affected the power supply of around 160,000 customers on June 21.

The power outage, which began after a CLP power cable bridge caught fire, also led to the suspension of 14 schools in Tin Shui Wai the following day. 

According to the report, CLP Power last inspected the cable bridge in November 2021 and no site works were being carried out before the incident

In a statement issued late Friday, a spokesman for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said the rare incident involved three sets of 132 kV and nine sets of 11 kV high-voltage cables.

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According to the report, the cables concerned were not under abnormal overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, and no cable joint was installed inside the cable bridge involved in the incident. 

CLP Power last inspected the cable bridge in November 2021 and no site works were being carried out before the incident, according to the spokesman.

Hong Kong residents switch on their mobile phones in a shopping center in Yuen Long district after a power outage on June 21, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

“The government is examining the report and will request CLP Power to supplement further information in the detailed report where required,” the spokesman said. The power company needs to submit the report on July 6.

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CLP Power will also be requested to devise and implement comprehensive improvement measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The accident is an isolated case affecting the power system of individual districts, while Hong Kong's overall power grid and power supply remained normal, the spokesman added.