99
MINUTE BY
HON. MR. R. M. HENDERSON, M.INST.C.E., M.1.W.E., M.I.MECH.E.
Director of Public Works.
Hon. C. S.,
On my return from leave in October last I was extremely surprised to see how heavy the water consumption had been during the past summer, and I immediately discussed the situation with Mr. Woodward who was then in charge of Waterworks.
From the discussion and comparison of figures it was evident that the water situation was far from that previously envisaged at the completion of the Jubilee Dam, as not only was consumption nearing the capacity of our existing works but great difficulty was being experienced in distributing the high summer consumptions experienced last summer.
I therefore asked Mr. Woodward to prepare a report on the situation and submit it, with his recommendations, as early as possible.
Mr. Woodward has now submitted his report, which is attached. It is briefly reviewed in a minute from Mr. Purves which is also forwarded herewith. The report is a very comprehensive one, dealing with the whole situation and proposing large extensions and alterations with which on the whole I am in general agreement Many of the works proposed, however, while very desirable and necessary, cannot be undertaken for some years to come, and as by then the situation may again have altered, requiring amendments to these proposals, it is not necessary at the present time to consider them.
I will therefore deal with the works which appear to me to be urgent and which should be undertaken within the next two or three years.
Mr. Woodward has based his estimates of the Island and Mainland resources on figures between my original estimates, which were perhaps on the conservative side, and Messrs. Binnie Gourley & Deacon's estimates, which are more optimistic. and I accept his figures.
The estimated total of existing resources on the island is 10.87 million gallons per day, and those on the mainland 12.41 million gallons per day (Kowloon 3.16, Shing Mun 9.25), or a total for the island and mainland of 23.25 million gallons per day. These figures are, of course, calculated on minimum rain periods, so that in most years considerably higher yields would be obtained. The minimum figure must, however, be taken for waterworks calculations.
Last year very considerable restriction of supply was in force in Hong Kong (214 days) and Kowloon (140 days), so that no true figure for full supply is avail- able. It is estimated, however, that the consumption on full supply all year would have been 22.5 million gallons per day, only 0.75 million gallons per day less than our estimated existing supply.
As the estimated normal annual increase in supply cannot be taken as less than 1.1 million gallons per day, and may be much more, it is evident that further extension to the supplies is immediately necessary.
Mr. Woodward proposes that construction be immediately started on the Shing Mun Catchwaters draining the Southern slopes of Taimoshan and discharging through Pineapple Pass into the Jubilee Reservoir. This, which is the Section of the Shing Mun Valley Scheme as proposed in my original report 8th April, 1924, would appear the next easiest, quickest, and cheapest extension, and I therefore strongly support it.
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