3
27
also been good enough to place their steam water-boat
"Cherub" at the disposal of this Government.
The tonnage
of the craft above enumerated is, of course, not adequate
for the full development of the services outlined in
paragraph 2 of this despatch and the Controller is
negotiating for the hire of certain coasting steamers and
the purchase of a second and larger tanker.
5.
A summary of the position, as it stood on
the 8th of July, is given in the enclosed copy of a
Enclosure No. 2 statement made by the Director of Public Works at a meeting
of the Water Emergency Committee held on that date.
On
Unfortun-
the 11th July the Chinese community held a further meeting
at the Tung Wa Hospital which, thanks to the tactful efforts
of the Chinese Members of Legislative Council, passed
without any untoward incident. As might be expected,
however, there was a strong demand for more liberal service.
through the mains, both the inconvenience and the cost of
carrying from the tanks being very considerable. ately the configuration of the Colony is such that, in order to give a two-hours' supply by pipe to all parts of the city,
it would be necessary to keep the principal mains full for
12 hours daily with the result that consumption would be
practically doubled and, although it may be possible to
operate the outside supply to Tytam Tuk at a considerably
lower cost than that indicated by Mr. Creasy in his state-
ment, the cost of the Chinese proposal would be prohibitive,
unless special revenue in the shape of a greatly increased
water-rate were forthcoming. A suggestion for such increase
was put to the Meeting, but the issue seems to have been
avoided.
6.
In order to secure a more rigid economy in
consumption on the part of those having metered supplies
connected directly to the principal mains, and therefore
having