CO129-509-15 Water supply- development scheme 30-1-1928 - 17-1-1929 — Page 158

156

(b)

Having regard to the fact that the lease of the New Territories is due to expire seventy years hence, is there any political objection to making the island of

Hong Kong and Old Kowloon dependent for a large part of

their water supply on reservoirs situated within the New

Territories?

(c) Having regard to the fact that the Shing Mun

Waterworks Scheme lies outside the area which in the last

resort is to be defended against enemy attack, is there

military or naval objection to making the island of

Hong Kong and Old Kowloon dependent for a large part

of their water supply on reservoirs in the Shing Mun

valley?

If the first question is answered in the

negative, and if both the other questions are also

answered in the negative, then I agree that we must pro-

ceed with the Shing Mun valley scheme as rapidly as funds

can be made available. In that case the chief problem

will be, what is the best method of piping fresh water from

the mainland to the island?

On this point Mr. Henderson has proposed a

pipe line laid upon the bed of the harbour, The Con- sulting Engineers recommend a pipe line buried in the bed

of the harbour. The former scheme is cheaper. I do not

know which scheme is considered safer: but I should

like to have full information as to how repairs, when necessary, and maintenance will be effected.

It is also for consideration whether, as the

Colony greatly needs facilities for vehicular transport

between the island and the mainland, the best plan

might not be to construct under the harbour

a tunnel

which would also serve as an aqueduct. Such a tunnel

would, I think, be far more satisfactory than a vehicular

ferry; and serve in case of typhoons there would (if a

Even

tunnel