p
ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE
CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES,
THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE AND THE
DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.
Z/E.254/12.
LEGRAMS: CROWN LONDON.
TELEPHONE: 7730 VICTORIA,
11
1.
Sir,
CROWN
AGENTS
FOR
THE
COLONIES
4 MILLBANK,
2124
WESTMINSTER,
LONDON, S.W.1.
Dec
31st January 1931
16
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter No.82773/31 of the 29th December regarding the Shing
Mun Valley Waterworks Scheme, Hong Kong.
2. This scheme was originally prepared by Mr.
R.M.Henderson of the Public Works Department, and is described
in his reports of the 8th April 1924, and of the 31st March 1930.
In view of the magnitude of the scheme it was thought desirable
to submit the proposals to a firm of eminent Consulting
Engineers for their advice and the firm of Sir Alex. Binnie,
Son & Deacon was selected for this purpose. Mr. Gourley, a
partner of the above firm, visited Hong Kong in January 1930,
and reported that the scheme was a good one and that the works
so far completed had been well laid out. Mr. Gourley expressed
the opinion that with certain modifications Mr.Henderson's
proposals were the most economical means of securing the
additional water supply required.
3.
The scheme includes the construction of a dam of
considerable height and although Mr.Gourley, when in Hong Kong,
examined the foundations for the dam so far as it was possible
to do so, he considered that further exploratory work was
necessary before the site could be finally approved, and it
was suggested that Mr. Binnie, the senior partner of the firm,
should visit Hong Kong and make another examination of the
foundations after the further exploratory work had been
B
Ausd. 81132
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial office.
MJ.
/completed
CA.