2
Enclosure 2
End. ts (1) on '41.
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day below the average daily consumption even with drastic restriction still in force. This makes no allowance for any increase in the population, nor for the badly needed extension of the flush sewage system which it is impossible to consider unless further water resources are developed. In many areas in the Colony building permits have necessarily to include a clause prohibiting the use of mains water in W. Cs. and latrines. Plate No.7 in the attached paper on the Hong Kong Water Works by the Waterworks Engineer, Mr. Jackson, shows that by 1957 a demand for a complete flushing system will increase the estimated demand for water in the Island and Kowloon by about 12 million gallons per day. I would invite your attention particularly to that part of the paper headed "Conclusions" on pages 53 to 55. The whole report is indeed of interest as showing the grave and recurring nature of the problem of the Colony's water supply.
5.
The consumption of water both on the Island and the mainland is increasing steadily year by year and it is evident that with the existing facilities the Island alone cannot be self-supporting in water unless there is a very appreciable decrease in the population of which there is no indication whatever. If therefore the large capital expenditure involved in the Little Hong Kong scheme were incurred, it would be no solution to the problem and we would still require considerable additional supplies from the New Territories, both for the Island and for Kowloon on the mainland.
6.
I regret that I have not available an estimate of the cost of the Little Hong Kong scheme, but it would undoubtedly be greater per million gallons of water than the Tai Lam Chung scheme since it involves the construction of two dams instead of one, extensive and expensive resumptions of land and buildings, and diversions of considerable lengths of roads and other services. While it would go a little way to meet the present requirements of the Island it would be totally inadequate to meet foreseen requirements and could never ensure that the Island would be self-supporting.
7.
As regards paragraph five of your telegram under reply, the Tai Lam Chung Scheme does not involve expensive resumptions. It requires only one dam with the usual catchwaters, trunk mains, filters and service reservoirs. The Consulting Engineers in their report of 27th December, 1940, stated clearly and with reasons that the main dam and trunk line to Kowloon should be constructed in their final form. No modified programme for these works can therefore be advised. The remaining portion of the Tai Lam Chung Scheme comprising pumping stations, filter beds, service reservoirs and distribution mains can, however, be carried out in instalments over a period of years, and these works could be accelerated or slowed down to meet any increased or reduced demand due to variation in the population. The main headworks and trunk lines to Kowloon must however be put in to meet the full requirements from the outset. The Tai Lam Chung Scheme can be developed to provide approximately 30 million gallons per day of which 18 to 20 million gallons would normally be available for the Island and the balance for Kowloon and New Kowloon.
8.
This matter has been under detailed and expert examination since before the war and I am satisfied that, despite the consideration raised in your telegram, the only really satisfactory solution is to make a start with the Tai Lam Chung
/Scheme as soon
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