CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 286

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Under such system of computation the "free"

supply of water in a Chinese house inhabited by the lower

classes would have been about 2 gallons per head per diem.

Experience in Kowloon proves that 7

for domestic purposes

A

gallons a day is enough for the lower class Chinese when there

is no waste.

It was anticipated that rather than pay

for the extra 5 gallons per head occupants would give up their

house services.

8.

The Bill in this shape was read a first

time and its object was misunderstood by the Chinese. They

Whereas the real

imagined that the aim was to raise revenue.

object was to check waste.

The Senior Chinese Member Dr. Ho Kai

had an interview with the Colonial Secretary and Director of

Public Works on the subject and pointed this out, and stated

that in his opinion the Bill would fail in its object as land-

lords in order to make their houses attractive would keep the

services in them and would arrange to charge the tenants for

their excess consumption by additions to the rent.

Dr. Ho Kai urged that the Chinese would

be better pleased if Goverment declared their real object

and took steps to attain it by direct legislation, at the sam time increasing the free supply to such premises as were al-

lowed services.

9.

After careful consideration I adopted the

same view in which my Executive Council, with the exception of

the Treasurer, agreed.

I recognised also that the meterage system

would