CO129-509-15 Water supply- development scheme 30-1-1928 - 17-1-1929 — Page 157

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I also consider that for sewerage, street watering and

fire-fighting only salt water should be used and further

that all fresh water required by the vast shipping of the

port should be obtained from the mainland and not from

the island. I gave directions on this last point before

I went on leave.

Old Kowloon has within it no source of fresh

water supply at all adequate to present and future demands.

Therefore, unless distillation of salt water is practicable-

a matter which ought (I think) to be very thoroughly in-

vestigated, the fresh water supply of Old Kowloon must

be drawn from the New Territories. It is obtained at

the present time from two reservoirs - Kowloon Reservoir

and Sheklaipui Reservoir both within the area which would in the last resort be defended against enemy

attack. It is probable that in time of emergency the

supply from these two reservoirs would suffice for the

military and naval establishments in Old Kowloon and also

for the Air Force base which will soon, I hope, be

permanently established on the Kaitak Aerodrome in New

Kowloon.

New Kowloon will, I believe, in years to come

be the most densely populated part of the Colony. It

can only be given an adequate supply of fresh water either

by distillation or by construction progressively of all

stages of the Shing Mun Scheme.

Such being the position, I am firmly of opinion

that the Aberdeen scheme should go forward with as little

delay as possible. For the rest, it will I venture to

think be necessary to obtain replies to the following

questions:-

(a) Is distillation of salt water a possible

solution of the problem?

(b)