Mr. Reed
This can be
registered.
ANS.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES Nɔ. 63
1/ JUL196/
HWA 10/42
14/2
!
Reference........
The Hong Kong Water Situation
As a result of a talk that I had this morning with Sir Stephen Luke, he kindly instructed Mr. Evans, the Crown Agents Director of Contracts, together with Mr. Simms, the Head of the Crown Agents Shipping Office, to come round for a talk with Mr. Carter,
Mr. Reed and myself this afternoon.
2.
Basic Figures
The dimensions of the Hong Kong water problem
are as follows:
(a)
(b)
at present there are 3,27m.gallons in
storage;
Hong Kong must aim to build up the volume in storage by the 1st October, so that they will be able to keep going throughout the next dry season (1 October to 30 June) without reliance on water from Communist China, should the latter decide not to fulfil their contractual obligation to supply 15,000 m. gallons over that period; (c) Hong Kong proposed to achieve the build up in their storage of water by a combination of rainfall and a continuation of rationing at their present levels (as from today they are down to four hours supply over four days for private consumers); The necessary rate of build up is as
(d)
(e)
follows:
By the end of July they need 5,000 m.
gallons in storage.
By the end of August they need 7,500 m.
gallons in storage.
By the end of September they need 9,500 m.
gallons in storage.
When water is not rationed the daily consumption is about 110 m. gallons; with rationing to four hours every four days.
the rate of consumption will probably even out at something like 30 m. gallons per day. 3. We discussed five possible methods of getting water to Hong Kong, if this becomes necessary.
Bringing Water in by Tankers
4. The main problem is getting water on board tankers quickly. There are apparently only half a dozen places in the world which have installations
enabling/
Ed (2829)