HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1932.
GOVERNMENT AND WATER SHORTAGE In conclusion 1 do most strong
LENGTHY DI CUSSION AT
LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
TELEGRAM TO BE DESPATCHED
TO SECRETARY OF STATE
That the Government was in entire agreement with the Un- official members of the Legislative Council regarding the imme- diate commencement of work on the second section of the Shing Myn Scheme and that the view of the Unofficial Members would be forwarded to the Home Authorilles, by telegram in order that the necessary permission to commence the work might be forth- ooming as soon as possible, was indicated by. His Excellency the Omoer. Administering the Government, at a meeting of the Legis- lative Council, yostenisy.
It was also indicated that with the expenditure of a sum of roughly $25,000, longer hours of water supply can be made avail. able at the street fountains, tas number of which will also be doubled within the next ten days or 10. A request for informal ap. proval of the expenditure of this sum was readily forthcoming.
Supply through meters, it was indicated, was likely to be fur- ther curtalled.
SHING MUN SCHEME TO BE REVIVED.
His Excellency the Offer Ad ministering the government (the Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn, CM.G.) presided, and there were also pre Bend:
The General Officer Commanding (Major-General J. W. Sandilands, C.B., C.M.G., D.9.0.).
The Colonial Seoretary (Hon. Mi. E. R. Hallifax).
The Attorney General (Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, F.C., O.B.E.).
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs (Hon. Mr. A. E. Wood)
The Colonial Treasurer (Hon. Mr. Edwin Taylor),
Hon Mr. H. T. Cracay, C. B. E. (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. T H. King (Acting Inspector General of Police).
tion in the course of the next few days. It is not considered safe to allow unmetered supplies in houses until the position improves.
Grave Doubts.
THE DP W
ADEQUATE SUPPLY TO ALL
I on behalf of the Unofficial Man bars, urge Tour Excellonay to co voy to the Right Honourable The Souretary of State for the Colonies Again at p 179 of Hansard which have taken place in the san
our protest against the delays saidi
ctioning of the commencement of The total quantity of water in
The Director of Public Works for the welfare of this Colony this most vital and necessary scheme storage in the Reservoirs of the take procedence over every other Hong Kong and 158 million gallons This dam must, in our opinion,Jons, being 873 million gallons in Cutoay to-day is 731 million gal Public Work.
in Kowloon.
the
"We venture, however, to express grave doubts whether, unde Government very speedily indoud gets on with the construction of the big dam at Shing. Mun, it will be reasonably practicable for the Gov-1 arument for somo years to come to discard the rider-main system, Wo would, therefore, meat strongly urge the Government to preson with the plans for the construction of the big dam in the Shing Mun gorge and with the building of the daan itself
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.
HARDSHIP TO POORER
OLASSES.
M. Kotowall-I beg to second the motion. The ground is so wolf oovered by the honourable senior remains for me to say. unofficial member that very little
Thore can be no question that the most pressing problem now con fronting the Colony in our water supply Representing as I do the preponderant element in the popu-
On Wednesday, May 11 it was deemed necessary to cut down the supply throughout the Colony to seven hours a day, and since thon careful watch has been kept. both on the consumption and the distribution of this supply,
After fall investigation it is now tion in consumption nor "the dis considered that neither the redues tribution of the present supply is satisfactory and that further re striction is necessary,A
of the harbour must be cut down, The present supplies on both sides and the proportion of the supply takon through meters should be re- dused, as street fountain consumers are at present not getting an equitable share.
Under the existing systems of sup-
Street Fountains.
And, in the course of the same debate (see Hansard as page 193)- the Honourable Sir Show Son Chow speaking on behalf of hin- self and the other two Chinese Members, after pointing out the hardships then suffered by the poor or classes of Chinese, said:
hion, I urge with all emphasis "Sir, we cannot afford a recur that not another day'a avoidable de rence of that most distressing con- lay in commencing the second seeply through motors and street down- dition. It must be prevented with tion of the Shing Mun scheme all the means and energy at the should be permitted in view of the taina, bath off the same main, it command of the Government, All great hardship entailed on the poor supply separately, the result being in not possible to restrict either. the permanent schemes should be er disses whenever a restriction on that while there appears to be con- decided upon and pressed on, with the water supply is imposed. the greatest possible spend with.
siderable hardship amongst thoso out a single day's avoidabl delay" three years have the Unofficial mam-fountains materad konsumera en- Time and again during the last drawing their supplies, from street Equally emphatio were the re-bers of this Council pressed on the joy a comparatively generous sup marks of the Honourable Sir Show Government the imperative need of ply. Hansard 1930 p. 109), in speaking is inexplicable why, in face of those. Son Chow on October 20 1930 (see pushing on with the work and it
all the Unofficial Members strong, representations and of the To reduce the hours of supply jointly,
squally strong opinion expressed by to any considerable extent under Visit from Experts.
official member, the Secretary at on those, using streep fountains, His Excellency the Governor, as the existing system would throw
State should have held up this most and would further aggravate the quoted by the honourable soinor un the burden of merifice still more.
essential and urgent, undertaking. prasent disparity of supply. the Hon. Sir Shouson Chow and I should like to repeat here, what firm paid a visit of inspection to that the people will not grudge any of last year, Mr. Gourieny of that I have said on previous occasions, this Colony and in the autumn. Mr.expenditure in the form of interent Binnie came out here, with the and sinking fund in respect of works which would obviate, at least result that, on December 10 last loans raised for providing water for some years, the necessity for restrictions on the water supply, and inconvenience..... with all their attending hardships
for
2 In February last it was defi cided in Executive Council that uni, Finally was decided to place versal meterage should be introducthe work in the hands of an emine ed as soon as possible, and that in ent firms of consulting engineers in the rider main districts the cost of England, Sir Alexander Binnie, transferring existing house-services Son and. Deacon, and, in January mains should be borne by publie from the rider mains to principal funds. Considerable progress has been made with this schome, and ixed within the Rider Main Areas. (See Hansard 1931 at page a large number of meters have been The Government will give this Council an opportunity to discuss the proposal for the abolition of fore the filling of the reservoirs the rider main system generally be makes the reintroduction of the rider main system a practical pas.
Hon. Commander G. F. Hole, RIN, (Retired) (Harbour Master).sibility.
Hon, Dr. A R. Wallington (Director of Medical and Sanitary" Services).
Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, K. C.
Hon Mr. W. E. L. Shenton.. Hon. Mr. R. B.
C.M.G., LL.D.-
Hon. Mr. J. R. Braga.
Kotewall,
SIR HENRY POLLOCK. BLAMES HOME AUTHORITIES
FOR DELAY.
209) His Excellency the present Governor stated in this Council as follows:-
second section is that the scheme has The position with regard to the been submitted to the Consulting Engineers, and two members of the Arm have been out here and have, approved of it. The questions referred to the Secretary of State in the Arst instance and it was port. He expressed some views on held over temporarily, for that re the subject as to whether we could afford the total cost. It is a very expensive scheme; but I strongly pointed out, in a despatch which
Hon. Mr. S. W. To, O.B. E., to move that the Unofficial Mem-included a reference to the Gaol, BAD.
Hon Mr. W. H. Bell. Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau. Mr. R. A C. North (Deputy Clerk of Councils)."
RIDER MAIN HÅRDSHIPS.
#
HON. MR KOTEWALL'S SUGGESTION,
mursunat to notice, asked:-
present shortage,
Sir Henry Pollock-I beg leave bers of this Council, in view of the that not only was it an essential serious, recurrent water work, vital to the Colony, but that respectfully urge the considered our financial position Hong Kong Government to prom the was amply good enough to permit Home Authorities immediately to of the scheme being proceeded, with sandtion the commencement of the at once. In the telegram in which second section of the Shing Man the Secretary of State approved of Water Scheme.
the Gaol being paid for out ni loan funds, he merely stated, with ragard to the fecond section of
COLONIAL SECRETARY: sudo ven a né ring thera
TELEGRAM ALREADY
SENT HOME
The
Colonial
Government can readily accept the Secretary: The
Member and in fact has already an- motion of the Senior Unofficial ticipated it by despatching a telo gram to the Secretary of State on May 11 setting out the present water shortage and the consequent restric tions as still further reason for pressing on at once with the Gorge Valley Reservoir at Shing Mun."
A short history of the more ra cont negotiations in connection with
all consumers should have an ad- With the object of ensuring that equate supply, bist. that matered age of having their water deliver- ed through the house taps, the consumers should retain the advan
house, has evolved a scheme to over- Waterworks Engineer, Mr. New- come the present difficulties at a comparatively small cost.
It is proposed in the ease of the Central and Western Districts of Hong Kong to utilize the existing isolated trunk main in Laine Road, and connect to it a series of tam- porary subsidiary mains roning down towards the harbour and carrying a large number of street fountains In the case of the Ene tern District of Hong Kong and the Kowloon Districts, is is pres posed to isolate certain suitably them a large number of street foun- placed trunk maing and connect to
tains.
It would then be possible to give a supply to these subsidiary foun taine during the, period when all other supplies are cut off.
altera
On completion of the tions it is proposed to give one period of full supply to the whole community, including the fountains, on the existing mains, and thera after as long a period of additional
subsidiary fountaine
emphacie protest by the united body tho Sbing Mun scheme, that we the Shing Mun Scheme will I hope supply as possible through the new
the houses in these districts on the catchwaters, for ite water supply, sity, as water, which is far more 9, 1031, Mr. Gourley, a partner in days
servoir storage, combined with afford to pay for such a vital notes
same restriction in rospect of hours can only be relieved by the imme-necessary to this Colony and its the Firm, came out to milition, of supply, so as to give the people diate commencement and urgent expansion than even a new Gaul.
t opportunity to prove that, in
pushing on to completion of the
Equitable Distribution,
This motion is being made as 30 of Unofficial Members against any further delay by the Home Author must wait a little until he had serve to satisfy Honourable Mom ties in sanctioning the commonca, seen the Consulting Engineers Rebers that there has been no undue The Hou. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, Shing-Mun scheme, and also in the shall be allowed to proceed with to a depth of 200 feet falls into the supply will be regained, die- ment of the Second section of the port, 1. assume, therefore, that, if delay in pressing on with it. A the second report is favourable, we dam of this height, storing water hope that it may strengthen "-the
By this method": full control off 1. In view of the great hardshipment, which UnofficialMembers
hands of the Hong Kong-Govern it??
the Category of the World's Large tribution will be mara equitablo and which residents of the rider-man cannot doubt in fully alive to the marks of HE the Governor it step taken demande the most ex importation of water and the exce With reference, dir, to those re engineering problems, and every any immediate necessity for thes districts are suffering in having to serious gravity of the present water seems to me absurd to suggest that trame circumspection. The services tion of tanks should be obviated. otain their water supply from the situation. stress fountains in this hot wea
this Colony, whose actual revenus of an English Firm Messrs. Sir for 1033 exceeded the estimated re- Alexander Binnie, Son and Deacon, will be carried out as expeditious This grave situation, sooing tha venue by more than three and a
If approved, the necessary works ther, will the Government, as an this Colony is dependent upon re half millions of dollars, canne once in this kind of work were system of supply will be brought experiment, restore the supply to
with a very wide specialized expertly as possible. It is hoped that this therefore enlisted and on January into oporation in a week or ten aita selected and its possibilities, fountains to be fixed on the now The number of the new street alio prosent scute state of the water large dom at Shing Mun, with its the absence of an abws to the for him to return a final opinion, will not be less than the existing aituation, they are able to keep
Since then, we must nasume, in
The data were not then sufficient subsidiary mains and trunk mains down consumption of water obtain
contrary, that the report of Mr. and more exploration work was number of fountains on the prosent d through such direct supply, to
Binnie was favourable to the called for the same level as that through the street supply on the understand. On July 18 1999, the following engineering feat; and yet here we struction of the new dam as 23
supply maint ing that every effort is made by resolution which was a form of re- are still waiting for the assent pi the three Chinese members of the solution then proposed by me as the Secretary of State to our prof the same firm rms to inspect On October 8, 1931, Mr. Binnie Legislative Council to impress upon emonded to meet the views of the posels for the financing of work the foundations, which had in the the people the imperative necessity then Governor, H. E. Sir Coil which was declared by the nan montime been opened up, finally for conserving every drop of water, Clementi, was unanimously posed mous voto of this Couner, icial reported that, the scheme as propos and that the street supply will be in this Council (See Hanzard 1929 as well as Unofficial, on July 19, ed was a sound one. The not uu reverted to, should it be found that P. III):- the consumption of a direct house
1920, to be work requiring to be important question of finance re supply appreciably exceeds that of Council it is imperative in the in-patc
pressed on with the utmost des mained, and the Segetary of State 4 root supply
terests of this Colony that perman-
required figures which would justify 2 Will the Government state ent measures to increase the water
Why the Delay Hong Kong in incurring the nedes whether any houses in the,zider supply of the Colony should be
Mary loan-and it must, not be for It is difficult to be patient in gotten that this work was not the districts have been disconnected pressed on with the utmost des the face of sich delay on the part only one on the Loan, List, though fromahe rider mains and, if so, patola
of the Home Authorities in saction- it is much the largest and the most double 1 will give the reasons fos ita ac Again, in the debate on the Bud such an urgent, and pressing need a dificult financial year, but veng During the period that the meter tion, in view of the statement made get on September 19 in that year a pure water supply, especially fall figure, contaming all available apply and the
ing the necessary expenditure ou immortant contemplated 1981 WES
potential storage of 3,000 million sallons, together with its necessary entobwaters...AS
"That, in the opinion of this
A Question of Finance,
By reducing the hours of supply to metered services it is anticipated through the new, fountains on the that a 19 hours supply can be given subsidiary mains
it when the Honourable Director. of Public Works said just now that Hon Bir Henry Pollock: Italy
the number of new street fountains to be fixed on the new-subsidiary mains-and-trunk mains will not bo less than the existing number of fountains on the present supply main," he meant that, the number of fountains, altogether would be Director of Public Works: Yes
by HExcellency the Governor, I speaking on behalf of all, the bearing in mind the fact that it information were sent to the Saare on subsidiary supply
Sir Cecil Clementi, in this Court eil on Contemis, 23, 209) Hàn shed 1020 232), mumolysi
"It will of course, be possible
Unofficial Members of Council, we commenced work upon the secretary of State on March 10, 1935, Hon. Sir Henry Pollock --I will cond section of the Shing Man in support to the Governments (now, Bir formally ask so that the "Another preasing need is an scheme to marrow, it would probabview that finance need no longer Unofficial Members may have an to discard the nicer main system mout regrettable, that your Excel before we should obtain oven could and should be undertaken that this matter he put to the adequate water supply. It seems ly take from two to three years stand in the way and that the work opportunity of recording their vote until there AT EN water availibly both on
leuey is not even now able to lay partial increase of our water at once. We hope we have now yote so that it may be seen that throughoutsion proposals, under the second of the big cum
before us definite, waterworks orten supply by the partial construction satisfied the Secretary of State on they are all in favour of the Wction of En Shing Mon chams From the middle of 1028 dowp Scheme and the ability of the Co 120 000 for the Offefel the Engineering features of the lion which I have proposed. Itula all arade of Hong to the middle of 1929, as was point day to finance.it; and nothing has Members to vote →→ Kong Island are (ave gathered out by the late Governor (Ses been or will be left undone to show From Mr. Henderson's reports) may Hansard 1929 at p.134) the rain the great urgency, Government in under, prasant.
ente sad fall was only thou 38 inches From deed welcomes this further to the October 1 fast until the middle tunity for despatching mod the of May this year the rainfall was to convey in the Booretary later only about 169 inches quote the Also it these Bgures marely for the purpose-offici
and on the mainland the year; dat he certainly give opportunity to
Abofore the
Tho
Lievenamon
in reopening
White
mido
tered
svar "widir" thà
hu Harbour kid
Aberdeen
period
must be borne in mind that the fut emphasising the point
Terlupply Dam, which apparently
BAC6Always liable to
the born water fhortage
aratona af the saheme will take many yeaTI complets even after the plans it have been drawn up and
opera, ed of?"
Telegram to be Sant,
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