CYPHER/ CAT A
CONFILENTIAL
HONG KONG TO COMMUN..EALTH OFFICE
TELNO 549
CONFIDENTIAL
2 MAY, 1968
77
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N2. úb
-3 MAYIN
HwB W8
ADDRESSED COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS TEL. NO. 549 DATED 2ND MAY RFI
PA SINGAPORE AND PEKING.
18/42.
75
MY TELEGRAM 1862 (662 TO PEKING: NOT COPIED TO SINGAPORE).
THE POSITION ON 1ST MAY WAS THAT THE OLD RESERVOIRS HELD 11, 164
MILLION GALLONS (MG). PLOVER COVE HELD 4,182 MG WITH A SALINITY
LEVEL OF 1,900 PARTS PER MILLION: THIS IS BEING PUMPED OUT INTO THE
SEA: NO SALINE WATER IS NOW GOING INTO SUPPLY RESERVOIRS. CHINESE
WATER CONTINUES TO COME IN AT ABOUT 55 MG PER DAY AND THERE ARE
3.290 MG MORE TO BE DRAWN IN THE CURRENT SUPPLY PERIOD WHICH ENDS
ON 30TH JUNE.
2. GIVEN REASONABLE RAINFALL THIS SUMMER, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A FULL DAYS SUPPLY FROM OUR OWN RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE
WINTER. THE CONTINUED ANNUAL SUPPLY OF CHINESE WATER FROM 1ST OCT-
OBER SHOULD GUARANTEE FULL DAILY SERVICE UNLESS THERE IS A
VERY SEVERE DROUGHT. WE HAVE MADE NO APPROACHES TO THE C.P.G. FOR
EXTRA SUPPLIES DURING THE PERIOD 1ST JULY 30TH SEPTEMBER NOR DO
F
WE EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO SO UNLESS MAY AND JUNE ARE
EXCEPTIONALLY DRY.
3. THE PROVISION OF WATER FREE FROM SALINITY FOR INDUSTRIAL PURP-
OSES HAS UNBALANCED OUR RESERVOIR HOLDINGS, THOUGH THIS IS AT PRESENT BEING RECTIFIED. IF PLOVER COVE FILLS UP, OUR ESTIMATE IS
THAT THE SALINE CONTENT WILL BE ABOUT 300 PARTS PER MILLION, WELL
BELOW THE TASTE RANGE, BUT STILL UNACCEPTABLE FOR CERTAIN INDUST-
RIAL PURPOSES. THE PROBLEM OF PROVIDING SALT FREE WATER FOR INDUSTRY WILL THEREFORE CONTINUE FOR SOME YEARS.
REF.
NEXT
RCF.
14.
CONFIDENTIAL