CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12] — Page 134

No.

551

Hongkong.

C 0.

520

jRece

Government Hodsel. 04

Hongkong. 2nd. December, 1903.

132

sir.

42577

03

I have the honour to acknowledge the re-

ceipt of your telegram of the 24th. ultimo pointing out that

only $100,000 is provided in next year's Estimates for the

Tytan Tuk Waterworks Scheme and asking what additional provision

will be required if the proposals contained in Sir Henry Blake's

de. Despatch No. 483 of the 22nd. October are sanctioned.

2.

In answer to your question I telegranhed

to you on the 30th. ultimo to the effect that the additional

sum required was estimated at $150,000. The Director of Public

Works considers that a total sum of $250,000 could and ought

to be expended on this work during 1904, provided it is

sanctioned at an early date and no unforeseen difficulties

occur in obtaining reasonable tenders.

3.

It is of the greatest importance that the

work should he pushed on, on both sanitary and economical

grounds. The following is an approximate statement of the

cost to the Colony of the shortage of water in 1901

1902:-

Cost of importing water and arrangements to tide over drought....

66,900

Loss to revenue through inability to supply water, say....

25,000

Cost to inhabitants of having to carry water,

say...

Total.

25.000 .8116,900.

The

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ALFRED LYTTELTON, M.P.,

?* • *

200..

&C...