CONCLUSIONS.
The figures enclosed by brackets may, I think, be rejected as unduly reduced by want of sufficient storage and consequent overflow. There is no reason why, with any given rainfall, the available percentage at Pokfulam should not be the same as at Tai Tam, except on account of want of storage.
(7) The general conclusions which may be drawn from the data given in the report before me are as follows.
(a) That the rain-year 1895-1896 is a probable minimum. So dry a year is not likely to occur more than once in 20 years, probably in a longer period. 53.83 inches fell, as against an average of 91.76 or 58 per cent.
(b) That the rain-year 1890-91, 66.96 inches as against 91.76 average, was also an unusually dry one.
(c) It is instructive as giving an example of a prolonged drought. The rainfall during the four wet months was not abnormally low, 57.62 as against an average of 60.34. The rainfall during the eight dry months was only 9.34 (Vide appendix A), as against an average of 31.42.
In as much as no such occurrence has ever taken place during 20 years and more, it is not correct