FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1981
ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA
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A DELEGATION FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT LED BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR D.W. MCDONALD AND THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR W.D.A. TUCKER HELD DISCUSSION IN GUANGZHOU WITH MR WEI LINJI, DIRECTOR OF GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF WATER CONSERVANCY AND HYDRO-POWER, AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE BUREAU ON THE SUBJECT OF ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY TO HONG KONG.
IT WAS AGREED THAT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE START OF THE NEXT SUPPLY PERIOD THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES WILL INCREASE THE WATER SUPPLY TO HONG KONG BY APPROXIMATELY 30 PER CENT. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER THAT CAN BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE GUANGDONG AND HONG KONG SUPPLY SYSTEMS, AND EVEN THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY THE AGREEMENT OF THE QUANGDONG BUREAU TO RESTRICT THE SHUTDOWN PERIOD FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE PURPOSES FROM TWO MONTHS TO ONE MONTH, AND WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT BY AND INCONVENIENCE TO THE BUREAU IN ADJUSTING THEIR WORKS PROGRAMMES.
FROM THE START OF THE NEXT SUPPLY PERIOD COMMENCING MAY 1, 1982 UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY 1983 THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO AGREED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF WATER SUPPLY, AND GIVEN FAVOURABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, IT IS HOPED THAT AN
IT IS HOPED THAT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 20 PER CENT CAN BE ACHIEVED.
THE BUREAU WILL ALSO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF ADVANCING THE IR DEVELOPMENT WORKS PROGRAMME TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER SUPPLY INCREASES OVER THE THREE YEARS FOLLOWING THE NEXT SUPPLY PERIOD.
HOWEVER, THESE INCREASES IN WATER SUPPLY WILL NOT MEAN THAT THE CURRENT WATER RESTRICTIONS CAN BE LIFTED, BUT THEY WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PROLONGED OR MORE RESTRICTIVE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.
AS A RESULT OF HIGHER OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, HEAVY INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY CHARGES AND THE NEED TO PUMP MORE WATER FROM THE EAST RIVER SOURCE THAN CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE NATURAL CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE SHENZHEN RESERVOIR, THE QUANGDONG BUREAU HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO REQUEST AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF CHARGES FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO HONG KONG. THE NEW RATE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 66 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT RATE AND WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY 1, 1982.
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