[Explanation] Hong Kong began to have electricity supply in the late 1880s and has a history of more than 100 years.
From the initial lighting of dozens of lights to the current thousands of lights, the hard work of a group of people in the power engineering industry is behind it.
In recent years, women have gradually joined the industry, which is dominated by men. They have professional knowledge and enthusiasm, and they work silently in positions such as power generation, transmission and distribution to ensure stable power supply in Hong Kong.
And Li Zhijun is one of them. As a secondary technician of CLP Power, she is mainly responsible for repairing and maintaining overhead cables.
[Concurrent] Li Zhijun, a second-level technician of Chunghwa Electric Power Co., Ltd.
I chose the motor industry.
This is a profession, and I can also develop my career with all my heart. This is also a public utility. My work can really contribute to the society. My work can really make citizens have a safer power supply network.
[Explanation] 33-year-old Li Zhijun worked as a clerical worker for 3 years. In 2019, he switched to the power engineering industry. From a lady in the office, he turned into a "female man" who climbed the tower.
Recalling that when he first joined the power engineering industry, another challenge that Li Zhijun had to face was the attitude of his family.
[Concurrent] Li Zhijun, a second-level technician of Chunghwa Electric Power Co., Ltd.
Especially when I left the clerical job, my family members were even more opposed. They were very worried about their daughters. Why did they choose another job if they had a comfortable job in an air-conditioned room?
My mom even worried that she had been mad at me once she didn't talk to me for a month.
But during that month, when I got home from school, I told her that I learned something new today, and I felt very satisfied when I used some tools as an internship in the factory today.
At that time, my mother began to soften, to change her mind, and even to support her daughter.
[Commentary] Lin Xiaoqing and Ye Jinyi were interviewed together with Li Zhijun. They have different backgrounds, but they have common goals, and they were selected in this year's Vocational Training Council Outstanding Apprentice Award Program and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Outstanding Trainee Engineer election. Awarded the award and was called "the outstanding young girl force behind the power supply" by China TV.
[Explanation] 21-year-old Lin Xiaoqing is the youngest among them. Like Li Zhijun, he joined CLP through the trainee technician program in 2019. He has studied in different positions to maintain overhead cables, connect underground cables, and maintain substation power equipment. Trainee technician.
[Concurrent] Lin Xiaoqing, trainee technician of Chunghwa Electric Power Co., Ltd.
I think my job is like a doctor. When it has a disease, you have to treat it. I remember a client once told me that someone in their family needed a ventilator, and asked if it could be done as soon as possible. Power up, that is, to reduce the degree of impact.
I remember that time after I finished talking to the masters, we did everything quickly, and then hurried to turn on the electricity to minimize the impact of that guest.
[Commentary] Ye Jinyi, 24 years old this year, is an assistant engineer of Chunghwa Electric Power Co., Ltd. She told reporters that she has been afraid of heights since she was a child, and this also brought a lot of challenges to her work.
[Concurrent] Ye Jinyi, Assistant Engineer of Chunghwa Electric Power Co., Ltd.
I myself am a person who is very afraid of heights. When I was a child, I went to the slide, and I was very afraid to go up.
But I am now going to work for me, for my profession, I walk up an 80-meter-high chimney, and just walk up like this.
Imagine walking up a chimney on the 26th or 27th floor, looking down, directly to the ground, there is still a lot of wind, I'm really scared.
But for the sake of my engineering major, I also have a small unwillingness to admit defeat. All professional engineers can go up, and there is no reason why I can't go up.
I have successfully overcome my fear of heights, and found that I am not so fearful. It turns out that I have some growth, and I can do this inspection and maintenance.
[Explanation] In recent years, more and more female engineers have joined the power engineering industry. According to data from CLP Power, the proportion of CLP female engineers has continued to grow in the past three years, from 11.5% in 2020 to the end of 2022. 13.9% in September, including 5 mainland girls who were recruited in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area this year and joined CLP through the trainee engineer program.
Reporter Liang Yuan Hong Kong reports
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]