TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1974
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HONG KONG BUYS MORE WATER FROM CHINA
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HONG KONG IS TO BUY AN EXTRA 2,500 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER FROM CHINA DURING THE CURRENT 1974-75 SUPPLY YEAR.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. BILL KNIGHT. HE SAID THAT THE AGREEMENT ON THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLY HAD BEEN REACHED AS A RESULT OF LONG-STANDING CONTACTS BETWEEN THE WATERWORKS OFFICE AND THE WATER CONSERVANCY BUREAU OF KWANGTUNG PROVINCE.
THE EXISTING AGREEMENT, NEGOTIATED DURING THE VISIT OF SENIOR HONG KONG WATER ENGINEERS TO KWANGTUNG PROVINCE IN NOVEMBER 1972, IS FOR 18,500 MILLION GALLONS TO BE PURCHASED DURING A SUPPLY YEAR RUNNING FROM OCTOBER 1 TO AUGUST 10.
THE ADDITIONAL 2,500 MILLION GALLONS WILL RAISE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WATER TO BE SUPPLIED FROM CHINA IN 1974-75 TO 21,000 MILLION GALLONS.
THE INCREASE WILL BE MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT SUPPLY YEAR TO SEPTEMBER 10. THIS MEANS THAT THE GAP BETWEEN THE END OF THIS SUPPLY YEAR AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT ONE WILL BE CUT FROM 51 DAYS TO 20 DAYS.
MR. KNIGHT COMMENTED THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED ON THIS INITIAL LIMITED INCREASE, WHICH WOULD TAKE DELIVERIES UP TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL ALLOWED BY THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING DELIVERY SYSTEMS.
+AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE+, HE ADDED, +WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN ANY FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE WHICH COULD BE ACHIEVED BY EXTENDING THE SYSTEMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
+WE HAVE BEEN, AND ARE, IN TOUCH WITH THE KWANGTUNG WATER AUTHORITY ABOUT THIS.+
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