CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 287

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

285

In many cases, this would impose a large charge on the poorer classes for the supply of water they required. When it is considered that, in some cases, 20 people live on one floor, the rental of which amounts to $30 per month, it will be seen that hitherto they have obtained their supply at an exceptionally low rate, about 7 cents per 1,000 gallons, or the equivalent of about $0.07.

In order to introduce universal meterage, an initial outlay of about $500,000 would have had to be incurred in providing one meter for each house, and a staff costing at least $20,000 per annum would have been required to supervise and read the meters and perform the necessary clerical work entailed.

It is obvious, therefore, that the price of water would have had to be largely increased in order to provide for this additional expense.

Other disadvantages pertaining to the meter system were that, in most cases, among the poorer classes, several families or separate occupiers live on each floor of a house, and one wasteful individual among them could have caused great expense to all the others. A separate meter for each family or occupier would have been impracticable.

10. Accordingly, I decided to abandon the adoption of universal meterage and to provide for the supply of water to the poorer section of the population by means of fountains in the streets, thus practically bringing the distribution of water in the City into line with that in force outside its boundaries. For the wealthier classes, a supply by house services has been provided for, all such services to be metered and any excess consumption above a certain allowance to be charged accordingly.

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285 In many cases, this would impose a large charge on the poorer classes for the supply of water they required. When it is considered that, in some cases, 20 people live on one floor, the rental of which amounts to $30 per month, it will be seen that hitherto they have obtained their supply at an exceptionally low rate, about 7 cents per 1,000 gallons, or the equivalent of about $0.07. In order to introduce universal meterage, an initial outlay of about $500,000 would have had to be incurred in providing one meter for each house, and a staff costing at least $20,000 per annum would have been required to supervise and read the meters and perform the necessary clerical work entailed. It is obvious, therefore, that the price of water would have had to be largely increased in order to provide for this additional expense. Other disadvantages pertaining to the meter system were that, in most cases, among the poorer classes, several families or separate occupiers live on each floor of a house, and one wasteful individual among them could have caused great expense to all the others. A separate meter for each family or occupier would have been impracticable. 10. Accordingly, I decided to abandon the adoption of universal meterage and to provide for the supply of water to the poorer section of the population by means of fountains in the streets, thus practically bringing the distribution of water in the City into line with that in force outside its boundaries. For the wealthier classes, a supply by house services has been provided for, all such services to be metered and any excess consumption above a certain allowance to be charged accordingly.
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0 285 many cases, would impose a large charge on the poorer classes for the supply of water they required. When it is considered that, in 20 people live on one floor, the rental of which amounts to $30 per month, it will be seen that hitherto they have obtained their supply at an exceptionally low rate, about .07 cents per 1,000 gallons, or the equivalent of about lệ đ. In order to introduce universal meterage, an initial outlay of about $500,000 would have had to be incur- red in providing one meter for each house, and a Staff costing at least $20,000 per armum would have been required to super- vise and read the meters and perform the necessary clerical work entailed. It is obvious therefore that the price of water would have had to be largely increased in order to provide for this additional expense. Other disadvantages pertaining to the mater system were that in most cases mong the poorer classes several families or separate occupiers live on each floor of a house, and one wasteful individual mong them could have caused great expense to all the others. A separate meter for each family or occupier would have been impracticable. 10. Accordingly I decided to abandon the adop- tion of universal meterage and to provide for the supply of water to the poorer section of the population by means of fountains in the streats, thus practically bringing the dis- tribution of water in the City into line with that in force outside its boundaries. For the wealthier classes, a supply by house services has been provided for, all such services to be metered and any excess consumption above a certain allowance to
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285

many cases,

would impose a large charge on the poorer classes for the

supply of water they required. When it is considered that, in

20 people live on one floor, the rental of which

amounts to $30 per month, it will be seen that hitherto they

have obtained their supply at an exceptionally low rate, about

.07 cents per 1,000 gallons, or the equivalent of about lệ đ.

In order to introduce universal meterage,

an initial outlay of about $500,000 would have had to be incur-

red in providing one meter for each house, and a Staff costing

at least $20,000 per armum would have been required to super-

vise and read the meters and perform the necessary clerical

work entailed.

It is obvious therefore that the price of

water would have had to be largely increased in order to provide

for this additional expense.

Other disadvantages pertaining to the mater

system were that in most cases mong the poorer classes several

families or separate occupiers live on each floor of a house,

and one wasteful individual mong them could have caused great

expense to all the others. A separate meter for each family

or occupier would have been impracticable.

10.

Accordingly I decided to abandon the adop-

tion of universal meterage and to provide for the supply of

water to the poorer section of the population by means of

fountains in the streats, thus practically bringing the dis-

tribution of water in the City into line with that in force

outside its boundaries. For the wealthier classes, a supply

by house services has been provided for, all such services to

be metered and any excess consumption above a certain allowance

to

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