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should cease. After taking over the arms of the motor boat, the pickets then called upon the crew to accompany them to their Headquarters at Sham Chun which they did. Information of the incident reached Hong Kong early on the 21st July, when the Director of Education accompanied by the District Officer North and the Assistant Superintendent of Police New Territory proceeded to Sham Chun to demand the immediate release of the crew and the return of the arms of No. 10 Motor boat. Troops were also brought up to the frontier at Lo Wu. After some discussion the crew were released and sent back to Lo Wu. The arms were also returned to Lo Wu the same night. The work of salving the stranded Motor boat started on the following day. It took 5 days to dig her out and get her back into the main stream, the flood water having subsided almost immediately after the grounding. The boat was undamaged and in fairness to the pickets it must be stated that not one article was missing from the boat when salved. The work of salving was also carried on without interference on the part of the pickets above Lo Wu. However the Motor boat engaged in salvage work was twice fired on, when returning to Lok Ma Chau from No. 10 Motor boat for the night.
6. Severe Rain Storm accompanied by landslides, collapses and casualties on 19.7.26:- On the morning of 19th July following a very severe thunderstorm lasting all night and accompanied by lightning, which illuminated the sky incessantly, a series of landslides and collapses and much flooding of streets occurred, both in Victoria and Kowloon. The most serious landslide was at the Peak Pumping Station in the Pokfulam Road. A large boulder weighing approximately 3000 tons became dislodged, rolled down the hillside and completely demolished one end of the Pumping Station which supplies the Hill District with water. In its fall it demolished all the mains to the Hill District and Upper Levels, also the new and largest pumps. Four Chinese fitters who were attending the pumps at the time were crushed to death. This disaster occurred at over 8.30 a.m. Very serious damage amounting to well $1,000,000 was done to roads, nullahs, cemeteries and Government works, and in addition much damage was done to private property. The rainfall amounted to 19" in 8 hours and 21′′ in 24 hours. For hours some of the main thoroughfares were 2 to 3 feet deep in water and when the water subsided, they were impassable owing to the silt left behind. The low level tramways were unable to run at all for 24 hours and only on certain sections for several days afterwards. By the end of the year much of the damage had been repaired but much work particularly on nullahs remained to be done.
7. Piracy: The steam launch “Sai Kung”:- To the long list of piracies in recent years involving loss of life must be added that of the steam launch “Sai Kung” running from Hong Kong to Sai Kung in the New Territories. This launch left Sai Kung on its homeward journey at 2.30 p.m. on the 12th September with 17 passengers. There were 3 Indian guards on duty
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should cease. After taking over the arms of the motor boat, the pickets then called upon the crew to accompany them to their Headquarters at Sham Chun which they did. Information of the incident reached Hong Kong early on the 21st July, when the Director of Education accompanied by the District Officer North and the Assistant Superintendent of Police New Territory proceeded to Sham Chun to demand the immediate release of the crew and the return of the arms of No. 10 Motor boat. Troops were also brought up to the frontier at Lo Wu. After. some discussion the crew were released and sent back to Lo Wu. The arms were also returned to Lo Wu the same night. The work of salving the stranded Motor boat started on the following day. It took 5 days to dig her out and get her back into the main stream, the flood water having subsided almost immediately after the grounding. The boat was undamaged and in fairness to the pickets it must be stated that not one article was missing from the boat when salved. The work of salving was also carried on without interference on the part of The pickets above Lo Wu. However the Motor boat engaged in salvage work was twice fired on, when returning to Lok Ma Chau from No. 10 Motor boat for the night.
6. Severe Rain Storm accompanied by landslides, collapses and casualties on 19.7.26:-On the morning of 19th July follow- ing a very severe thunderstorm lasting all night and accom- panied by lightning, which illuminated the sky incessantly, a series of landslides and collapses and much flooding of streets occurred, both in Victoria and Kowloon. The most serious landslide was at the Peak Pumping Station in the Pokfulam Road. A large boulder weighing approximately 3000 tons be- came dislodged, rolled down the hillside and completely demolished one end of the Pumping Station which supplies the Hill District with water. In its fall it demolished all the mains to the Hill District and Upper Levels, also the new and largest pumps. Four Chinese fitters who were attending the pumps. at the time were crushed to death. This disaster occurred at
over
8.30 a.m. Very serious damage amounting to well $1,000,000 was done to roads, nullahs. cemeteries and Govern- ment works, and in addition much damage was done to private property. The rainfall amounted to 19" in 8 hours and 21′′ in 24 hours. For hours some of the main thoroughfares were 2 to 3 feet deep in water and when the water subsided, they were impassable owing to the silt left behind. The low level tramways were unable to run at all for 24 hours and only on certain sections for several days afterwards. By the end of the year much of the damage had been repaired but much work particularly on nullahs remained to be done.
7. Piracy: The steam launch “Sai Kung":-To the long list of piracies in recent years involving loss of life must be added that of the steam launch “Sai Kung" running from Hong Kong to Sai Kung in the New Territories. This launch left Sai Kung on its homeward journey at 2.30 p.m. on the 12th Septem- ber with 17 passengers. There were 3 Indian guards on duty
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