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The pipes will come ashore about half way across at Chau Kung Island, where they will be interconnected in order to maintain a supply in the event of damage to either of them. A subsidiary submarine main will also be led off to Peng Chau for the benefit of its 7,000 inhabitants. The submarine pipeline will finally emerge at Sandy Bay on the north-west corner of Hong Kong Island; here another pumping station will raise the treated water to two new service reservoirs to be constructed on Mount Davis, one of 30 million gallons capacity (the largest in the Colony), the other of 6 million gallons. The latter will serve the western district of Hong Kong, while water from the former will be available for the central and eastern areas as well as for transfer to Kowloon through the present cross-harbour mains. The Public Works Department is responsible for the design and construction of the catchwaters on Lantau and for all work on the island of Hong Kong. The Agriculture and Forestry Department has a heavy programme of afforestation in the catchment areas. The dam itself, the submarine pipeline, and all other work on Lantau are the responsibility of the Consulting Engineers. The water should begin to flow to Hong Kong towards the end of 1963.
Because of the magnitude and complexity of the scheme, Government decided to invite 'world' tenders for the dam and the submarine pipeline. The contract for the construction of the dam was let in July 1959 to the French firm, Société Française d'Entreprises de Dragages et de Travaux Publics; the contract for the laying of the pipeline was awarded in August 1960 to the American firm, Healy Tibbetts Construction Co Ltd, in conjunction with J. L. Kier & Co Ltd, of London and Paul Y Construction Co of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, a great deal of less spectacular but essential work had gone ahead in preparation for the arrival of the main contractors. More bungalows for the engineers, living quarters for the large labour force and two small recreation clubs have been completed. A small hospital with a resident doctor and staff is in operation, serving the adjacent villages as well as workers on the project. Radiotelephone communication links the site with Hong Kong, and two landing grounds for helicopters are already in frequent use.
People who have not been to Hong Kong sometimes imagine that the Colony is dependent on China for its water supplies. The
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