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Public Works and Utilities
THE programme of Public Works, Hong Kong's largest single financial commitment, ranges from the formation and reclamation of land, the building of resettlement estates, schools and hospitals to the construction of roads, sewers, piers and reservoirs. Capital expenditure for the financial year 1970-1 is estimated at $350 million, or about 15 per cent of total expenditure envisaged in the annual estimates. Of this sum $89 million is to be spent on resettle- ment and government low-cost housing, $50 million on roads, and $52 million on water supplies.
WATER SUPPLIES
For the third year in succession Hong Kong enjoyed an un- interrupted water supply and thus entered a new era-normal for most countries in the world, but exceptional for Hong Kong where restrictions in the hours of supply have been accepted as the rule. The introduction of the 37,000 million gallon capacity Plover Cove reservoir in 1968 has made an enormous contribution to the Colony's resources. However, with demand averaging about 160 million gallons per day this year and continuing to increase, full supply can be assured in future only by the provision of further large sources of supply, and some work on these has already begun.
On January 1, 37,903 million gallons of water were held in stor- age compared with 37,000 million gallons in January 1969. Of this total 31,943 million gallons were stored in Plover Cove. Rainfall was slightly higher than average (91.19 inches compared to 85.39 inches) and all the major reservoirs overflowed in September.
The Chinese Authorities continued the supply from their Shum Chun reservoir, and during the period from October 1969 to June 1970, 15,017 million gallons were purchased from them. The supply was resumed on October 1, 1970, in accordance with the current agreement with the Peoples Council of Kwangtung Province.