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The system of supply was, briefly stated, as follows.
1.
Within the City of Victoria, water for domestic purposes was supplied without check or restraint of any kind through services laid on to the houses. Any house could have its service. Meters were fixed only in the case of supplies for trade or non-domestic purposes.
2.
Outside the City of Victoria and in Kowloon, the supply of water to Chinese houses was entirely by means of public fountains. Services for the supply of water for domestic purposes were permitted to European houses only, and in the case of all services meters had to be fixed.
3. A uniform rate, both inside and outside the City, of 2% per annum on the rating valuation was charged on account of water. In the case of all metered supplies, the water consumed was charged for at the rate of 25 cents per 1,000 gallons, a rebate of 13% per annum on the rating valuation being made from the accounts.
5.
It will be gathered that, under the old Ordinances, there were some strange anomalies. A European house inside the City boundaries obtained an unlimited supply of water through a service without payment except in the form of rates. A similar house outside the City boundaries was metered and had to pay for all it consumed, only a portion of the amount paid as water rate being refunded.
A Chinese house inside the City boundaries also