14
Public Works and Utilities
PUBLIC WORKS
Waterworks. Intensive efforts are being made to solve the water supply problem and 1961 was a year of action which followed on naturally from the major decisions taken in the previous year. These decisions to construct the first stage of the Integrated Scheme and to accept water from China-bring nearer a time when the whole population may get water from the taps 24 hours a day every day and will thus eliminate the problem of water shortage which has affected the Colony for a century, when crisis after crisis occurred as demand outstripped supply.
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During the year work went ahead on the Shek Pik Reservoir on Lantau Island, which will, by 1964, add 5,400 million gallons to Hong Kong storage resources. The indirect catchment area of the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir was further extended, a large filtration plant was completed at Aberdeen and work was started on another plant at Yuen Long.
Stage one of the Scheme to accept water from China was com- pleted in January. An irrigation reservoir and four dams were constructed in the New Territories to bring further assistance to farmers. The urban area and Tsuen Wan water supply was fluoridated with the object of improving the dental health of future generations of Hong Kong citizens.
The first stage of the Integrated Scheme includes the tapping of the stream courses round the head of Tolo Harbour between Tai Po and Sha Tin. In some cases, these streams will drop down shafts more than 300 feet deep to the main collecting tunnel which will bring the water to Sha Tin for storage and treatment. The treated water will be pumped to flow by tunnel to service reservoirs on the south side of the Kowloon hills.
Ultimately, with the completion of stage two of this Scheme, the summer surplus yields of these streams will be stored at Plover