SULDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
+THIS HAD LED TO THE USE OF TUNNELS WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, THE AVOIDANCE OF REPETITIVE PIPE LAYING OVER THE SAME ROUTE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL ACCESSES TO ACCOMMODATE CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC, AND PRESERVATION, AND WHERE NECESSARY, IMPROVEMENT OF IRRIGATIONAL SYSTEMS AFFECTED AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE CHOICE OF ROUTES AND LOCATIONS OF INSTALLATION WHICH MAY MINIMISE LOCAL DISTURBANCE AS ADVISED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES,+ SAID MR TUCKER.
+EVEN SO, THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE LAND REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT IS STILL CONSIDERABLE, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE ORDER OF 40 HECTARES.+
THE NEW RECEPTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, HE ADDED, WOULD, ON COMPLETION, BRING RAW WATER SUPPLY TO CENTRES OF DEMAND AT DISTRICT LEVEL.
TREATMENT WORKS, PUMPING STATIONS, TRUNK AND DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES AND SERVICE RESERVOIRS FOR TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF WATER WITHIN THE DISTRICTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY TO MEET DEMAND GENERATED FROM EXISTING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
HONG KONG NOW GETS 168 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER FROM CHINA AND UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN NOVEMBER 1978, THE TERRITORY IS TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SUPPLY OF 182 MILLION CUBIC METRES BY 1982.
THE LATEST AGREEMENT SIGNED IN MAY 1980 WILL ENSURE SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLIES FOR HONG KONG WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE IN SUPPLY OF ABOUT 35 MILLION CUBIC METRES FROM 1983.
MR TUCKER SAID THAT FROM 1982, THE ANNUAL SHUT-DOWN PERIOD WOULD BE CHANGED FROM AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO MARCH AND APRIL TO MORE READILY FACILITATE THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE RECEPTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
THIS MEANS THAT THE ANNUAL QUOTA OF WATER WILL BE SUPPLIED BETWEEN MAY 1 AND THE END OF FEBRUARY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR, LEAVING MARCH AND APRIL FOR MAINTENANCE BY BOTH SIDES. DURING THE SHUT-DOWN PERIOD, SUPPLY WILL BE MAINTAINED FROM STORAGE IN THE RESERVOIRS WITHIN THE TERRITORY.
IN VIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION LEAD TIME, MR TUCKER SAID, HONG KONG WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM LAST YEAR'S AGREEMENT UNTIL 1983.
ON THE CURRENT WATER SITUATION, MR TUCKER DREW ATTENTION TO THE RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION IN 1979 WAS 10 PER CENT, WHILE THAT FOR 1980 WAS 8.5 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH A FORECAST AVERAGE INCREASE. OF JUST OVER 6 PER CENT.
THE INCREASES WERE SIMILAR IN ALL DISTRICTS AND ARE ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED HOUSING STANDARDS, GREATER USAGE OF WATER CONSUMING APPLIANCES AND THE INCREASE IN POPULATION.
WHILE THE TREND DID NOT GIVE RISE TO CONCERN AT THE PRESENT, HE STRESSED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR CAREFUL USE OF WATER IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT WATER STORAGE SITUATION.
THE TOTAL