HONGKONG.
REPORT ON THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF
VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of
His Excellency the Governor.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE,
247
No. 19
98
HONGKONG, 9th May, 1896.
SIR, I have the honour to forward you the following report on the water supply to the City of Victoria, and Hill District.
2. The history of the works constructed and the various projects that have from time to time been put forward for securing a liberal supply of water to the City of Victoria are contained in numerous official documents dating from the year 1860. These are neither easily accessible nor convenient for general reference.
3. Before dealing with the main objects of this report, viz., the capacity of the present works and the available means of increasing the present water supply, I propose briefly to place on record in a connected form for convenience of future reference the main features of the existing works, and, the facts and opinions recorded in the various reports submitted to Government that are of general interest or of practical utility in considering this subject.
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
4. Prior to the year 1860 the water supply for the City of Victoria was obtained from the streams flowing down the northern slope of the hills immediately above the City. These were tapped above the built area and led into small tanks, situated in convenient positions in various parts of the City, from which the water was supplied to the inhabitants.
5. Mr. S. B. Rawling's Project.-The scarcity of the water supply to the City during the winter of 1859 led to the preparation of the first project of any magnitude. The details of this project are contained in a report by Mr. S. B. RAWLING dated 29th February, 1860, in which he proposed--
(a) The construction of a reservoir in the Pokfoolum Valley to imponad 30,000,000 gallons by throwing a dam across it at a point about 2,400 feet up the ravine from the bridge on the Aberdeen Road.
(b) The laying of a 10-inch cast iron main along the Pokfoolum and Robinson Roads 17,400 feet in length to a point immediately south of Inland Lot No. 605 capable of discharging 1,000,000 gallons per diem.
(c) The construction of a tank at the termination of the 10-inch main of a capacity of
200,000 gallons. (No. 1 Tank.)
(d) The construction of a tank, connected with the previous one immediately south of Bonham Road at the top of Taipingshan, of a capacity of 850,000 gallons. (No. 2 Tank..)
(e) The erection of 30 fountains and 125 fire cocks.
6. Mr. RAWLING gives the total population of the City as follows :-
Land,...... Boat,
Total,.
.....
..49,880. ..14,701
.64,581 .
and considers that a supply at the rate of 15 gallons per head based on a total population of 60,000 will be found sufficient.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.