A
286
to be charged for.
This system has been in force in Kowloon ever since the Waterworks were established there, nearly 7 years ago, and has proved an unqualified success. No trouble has arisen nor have complaints been made by the people, and the consumption, as shown by the newspaper extract enclosed by petitioners is about one-half of what it is in the City.
A population of 57,000, living in houses similar in construction to those in the City of Victoria, is now supplied in this way.
It cannot therefore be said that a new and untried system is to be introduced, and if it produces similar results to those obtained in Kowloon, it may be safely predicted that water famines will be practically unknown for some years to come.
I have also to observe that the power to disconnect house services in tenement houses is not confined to tenement houses occupied by Chinese but extends to all tenement houses by whomsoever occupied.
11.
Dealing with the statements contained in the petition, I would offer the following remarks.
Paragraph 3. I have reason to believe that at least one of the Chinese Representatives dissented, not because he was personally opposed to the principles of the Bill, but in order to represent the views of petitioners.
Paragraph 4.(2). The allowance in the case of metered supplies is practically the same in the new Ordinance as in the old. The following example illustrates the case.—
As a sum