Review
HONG KONG'S WATER SUPPLIES
1960, A YEAR OF DECISION
FOR a number of years the Hong Kong Annual Report began with a general review of the problems confronting the Colony in the previous twelve months, of the manner in which they had been tackled, and of the more striking achievements and events of interest not only in the sphere of Government but in the life of the whole community. It was to some extent a summary of the later chapters, but it had to be selective and to give a broad impression rather than a detailed picture. In more recent years there has been a deliberate attempt to narrow the focus of this review, and to concentrate on some particularly striking aspect of the living history of Hong Kong. Thus, in 1956, a chapter entitled 'A Problem of People' introduced the Report, and set out to explain how this problem had grown up in ten years since the end of the Pacific War, what its effects were, and how it was being met. Again, in 1959, the half-way point of World Refugee Year gave an opportunity to assess the aims and achievements of that movement in relation to Hong Kong's problems, particularly the social problems arising from a vast increase in population. This year's opening chapter concentrates on the question of water supplies and, within the compass of a necessarily brief and non- technical account, tries to show what the problem is, why it exists, and what is being done to remove it. This is a particularly oppor- tune time to pause and look back on the history of the Colony's water supplies, and also to look hopefully into the future, for 1960 has been a year of decision.
What is the water problem? A visitor to Hong Kong will very quickly meet it, if he comes during the dry winter months. Arriving at his hotel, tired and uncomfortable after an air journey half-way round the world, a traveller's first thought will be to turn on the