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2
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1.
26
by importation, tankers and converted coasting steamers being
filled with river water and laid alongside a specially
constructed floating pipe line at Tytam Tuk, connecting with
the main pumping station there, so as to deliver the water
to the Tytan tunnel and thence by gravity to the filter beds
and mains. The tank system along the harbour front, being
below the level of the filter beds, will not permit of
filtration and arrangements have accordingly been made for chlorination. Kowloon continues to receive a 12 hours' supply
from the mains, the catchments of the Kowloon reservoir and
the Shing Mun tunnel supply having been more fortunate in
the share of such rain as has fallen.
3.
2
The organisation of the special services indicated in the last paragraph calls for expert knowledge of shipping, lighterage and kindred matters, and I have accordingly on the advice of the Water Emergency Committee, mentioned in paragraph 2 of my last despatch, appointed Mr.
S. T. Williamson to be Controller of Imported Water Supplies
with a Consultative Committee consisting of Messrs. R. Sutherland, O.B.E., W. G. Goggin and J. M. McHutchon. Mr.
Williamson is a shipping expert whose knowledge and ability have been of great service to this Government in the past, notably in connection with Shipping Control during the war. The Consultative Committee are also representatives of important shipping lines. All are members of the Water Emergency Committee and are giving their services free of
Enclosure No. charge. A copy of a Gazette Extraordinary announcing the
appointment of this body is enclosed.
4.
At present the fleet employed under the
Controller consists of one tanker (S.S. "Fu Kwong") chartered from the Asiatic Petroleum Co., eight steam water-boats and a number of lighters and tugs. The Naval Authorities have
also