RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES N 63
ST JULIZW/
HWA 18/42
MR. HOHLER
CONFIDENTIAL
Rकर
AG
ษา
31,77
25
17.. Garfinara
3:17
Chinese Water Supply to Hong Kong
The New China News Agency carried a report (attached) datelined Hong Kong on 25 July abcut the supply of water
from China to the Colony.
2. As is usual with such articles, it says nothing about Chinese decisions on this subject, but the tone of the article
implies that, at the moment, the Chinese believe that the
Under this agreement agreement on water supply remains valid.
the Chinese are obliged to resume pumping on 1 October.
3. The article makes no mention of Hong Kong's request for
The wording additional supplies during the summer months.
is very defensive in tone, trying to lay all the blame for water rationing on the Hong Kong Government but it gives no indication of whether the Chinese intend to supply the
additional water requested or not.
4. Hong Kong have reported that, providing rainfall is not too far below the yearly average, they will be able to store sufficient water to continue supplies during next year
although on a very restricted basis) even if the Chinese
do not resume pumping on 1 October.
I feel sure that both Hong Kong and Feking will note
If they do his article and the latter may well report it. hot, we will ask the Commonwealth Office to draw Hong Kong's attention to it and give them our interpretation of what it
seems to imply.
Copy to Mr. Carter,
C.C.
CCNFIDENTIAL
(E. Bolland) 27 July, 1967