see (10)
Mr. Paskin
11
1. Mr. Alexander said in his report on his visit to Hong Kong in June that the water provision was reasonably satisfactory unless the population continued rapidly to increase (in fact it has not done this). As a result of minutes of 16/5 and 17/5 we had, however, asked the Governor for an appreciation of the water supply position (see 4). The draft opposite to
Mr. Alexander's Private Secretary summarises for Mr. Alexander's information the Governor's reply (which is at 7) to our enquiry, and Mr. Rees-Williams may like to see it with reference to his minute.
2. Reference paragraph 3 of the draft letter, it seems most unlikely, if we had lost control of the main New Territories reservoirs in the hills behind Kowloon, that militarily there would be much likelihood of holding Kowloon. We should almost certainly be holding the Island only. The population of the Island in December 1948 was approximately 850,000. On the Governor's figures the reservoir capacity of the Island at the most inconvenient time of year would be sufficient to supply ten gallons per head per day for 95 days for this number.
3. As my minute of 20/5 notes, General Maltby's and Sir Mark Young's despatches on, the seige and fall of Hong Kong in 1941 do not mention water t fage or express any anxiety on this
score.
4. The new Hong Kong Defence Plan rates water supply as No.I priority essential service which must be maintained, but the danger envisaged, and to guard against which measures are laid down, is not a shortage of water, but a failure of power for pumping it.
5.
come
Reference Mr. Radford's minute of 12/5, we have recently been able to reply to the Governor about the issue of bearer bonds in future local loans (a copy of our savingram was marked toe to this file). We must now consider again the further communication to Hong Kong about the Tai Lam Chung project which should convey approval to its being proceeded with as and when funds are available, and should give what advice we can about about financing it (vide minutes leading up to Mr. Sidebotham's of 31/1 on the 1948 file).
This
Further communication will have to be considered in connection with discussions likely to take place shortly on the general question of Hong Kong's finances arising out of the Governor's remarks about future loan policy in his despatch forwarding the 1949/50 Estimates.
The papers should recirc. to Mr. Kirkness for this.
V.creen
17th August, 1949.
12/9
Thank you,
Holes 23/8
11. R.7. Wood. (Min. Of Def.)
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