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Wednesday, February 24, 1971
"This would be a single-purpose plant, that is, not linked with
the production of electricity. It means proceeding to plan the installation
immediately (incorporating the lessons we will have learnt from the stall
pilot plant being set up at present). The capital oust is estimated at
$190 million."
The Financial Secretary said there was a limit to the amount of
single-purpose desalting plant that Hong Kong could economically use in its
present system because of limitations of storage. This limit would be 60
million gallons a day, after High Island had been added to the system.
For the same reasons, there was a limit on the amount of water from
China the Colony could usefully take on a regular contractual basis. But
Hong Kong could "probably use more than we do now, and we shall be inviting
the Chinese authorities to explore the possibilities with us.
Sir John continued: "Looking further ahead, we shall have to begin
detailed discussions with the power companies about the possibility of dual-
purpose plants for water production in the early 1980s. We shall, with
High Island, have exhausted major conventional sources, although further
minor sohemes might still produce useful additions to supplies."
He explained that neither the proposal to proceed at once with High
Island or that for the planning and installation of a desalting plant giving
20 million gallons a day had yet been formally put to the Legislative Council
or its Finance Committee, though members were aware of them. He apologised
if he appeared to be "jumping the gun," but detailed proposals would be presented
as soon as possible.
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