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(b)
Having regard to the fact that the lease of the New Territories is due to expire seventy years hence, is there any political objection to making the island of
Hong Kong and Old Kowloon dependent for a large part of
their water supply on reservoirs situated within the New
Territories?
(c) Having regard to the fact that the Shing Mun
Waterworks Scheme lies outside the area which in the last
resort is to be defended against enemy attack, is there
military or naval objection to making the island of
Hong Kong and Old Kowloon dependent for a large part
of their water supply on reservoirs in the Shing Mun
valley?
If the first question is answered in the
negative, and if both the other questions are also
answered in the negative, then I agree that we must pro-
ceed with the Shing Mun valley scheme as rapidly as funds
can be made available. In that case the chief problem
will be, what is the best method of piping fresh water from
the mainland to the island?
On this point Mr. Henderson has proposed a
pipe line laid upon the bed of the harbour, The Con- sulting Engineers recommend a pipe line buried in the bed
of the harbour. The former scheme is cheaper. I do not
know which scheme is considered safer: but I should
like to have full information as to how repairs, when necessary, and maintenance will be effected.
It is also for consideration whether, as the
Colony greatly needs facilities for vehicular transport
between the island and the mainland, the best plan
might not be to construct under the harbour
a tunnel
which would also serve as an aqueduct. Such a tunnel
would, I think, be far more satisfactory than a vehicular
ferry; and serve in case of typhoons there would (if a
Even
tunnel