THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1977′
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DEVELOPMENT OF HK WATER RESOURCES
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THE P.W.D.'S DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. WILLIAM TUCKER, TODAY REVEALED GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DEVELOP MORE WATER RESOURCES IN AN EFFORT TO MEET FUTURE DEMANDS.
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON, HE SAID THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WOULD EMBARK ON A PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPING MINOR CATCHMENTS AND CONSIDER THE PHASING OF POSSIBLE FUTURE DESALTING PLANTS IN THE EARLY 1980'S FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE HIGH ISLAND SCHEME.
IN THE COMING YEAR, MR. TUCKER SAID, HE HOPED TO BE ABLE TO INITIATE SOME EXPERIMENTAL WORK ASSOCIATED WITH +REVERSE OSMOSIS AND WATER RECLAMATION+ TOGETHER WITH FURTHER STUDIES OF THE REMAINING UNTAPPED CATCHMENTS, TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THERE WERE ANY FURTHER ECONOMICALLY VIABLE SCHEME WHICH WOULD BE SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE.
+ALL PROPOSED WORKS AND STUDIES, HE ADDED, WILL BE GEARED TOWARDS PROVIDING ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE DEMAND CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE INCREASING AT SIX PER CENT PER ANNUM. +
TURNING TO THE PRESENT WATER SITUATION, MR. TUCKER SAID THE RESERVOIR STORAGE TODAY WAS 36,293 MILLION GALLONS WHICH WAS SOME 28,000 MILLION GALLONS LESS THAN THE STORAGE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
AS A LITTLE OF THE WET SEASON STILL REMAINED, HE SAID, IT WOULD BE IMPRUDENT TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY, AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT.
AN
+EVERYONE IS AGREED THAT THE IMPOSITION OF RESTRICTIONS IS INCONVENIENCE WE COULD ALL WELL DO WITHOUT, HE SAID.
+HOWEVER, BEFORE ANY SUGGESTION OF RELAXATION CAN BE ENTERTAINED, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING PARTICULAR LEVELS OF SUPPLY SO THAT ANY RELAXATION WOULD NOT LEAD TO A SITUATION WHERE THE PROVISION OF BASIC, DAILY SUPPLIES IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE JEOPARDISED BY SUCH A RELAXATION NOW.
+ THE AIM IS TO HUSBAND OUR RESOURCES TO MAXIMISE THEIR USAGE WHILST AVOIDING, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE NEED FOR VERY SEVERE RESTRICTIONS.+
ON THE PROSPECTS OF MEETING FUTURE DEMANDS, MR. TUCKER SAID THERE WERE TWO POINTS TO BE MADE ON INTERNAL RESOURCES.
/+FIRST,