CO129-513-6 Hong Kong water supply- schemes for development and improvement 25-1-1929 - 2-8-1929 — Page 26

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by importation, tankers and converted coasting steamers being

filled with river water and laid alongside a specially

constructed floating pipe line at Tytam Tuk, connecting with

the main pumping station there, so as to deliver the water

to the Tytan tunnel and thence by gravity to the filter beds

and mains. The tank system along the harbour front, being

below the level of the filter beds, will not permit of

filtration and arrangements have accordingly been made for chlorination. Kowloon continues to receive a 12 hours' supply

from the mains, the catchments of the Kowloon reservoir and

the Shing Mun tunnel supply having been more fortunate in

the share of such rain as has fallen.

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The organisation of the special services indicated in the last paragraph calls for expert knowledge of shipping, lighterage and kindred matters, and I have accordingly on the advice of the Water Emergency Committee, mentioned in paragraph 2 of my last despatch, appointed Mr.

S. T. Williamson to be Controller of Imported Water Supplies

with a Consultative Committee consisting of Messrs. R. Sutherland, O.B.E., W. G. Goggin and J. M. McHutchon. Mr.

Williamson is a shipping expert whose knowledge and ability have been of great service to this Government in the past, notably in connection with Shipping Control during the war. The Consultative Committee are also representatives of important shipping lines. All are members of the Water Emergency Committee and are giving their services free of

Enclosure No. charge. A copy of a Gazette Extraordinary announcing the

appointment of this body is enclosed.

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At present the fleet employed under the

Controller consists of one tanker (S.S. "Fu Kwong") chartered from the Asiatic Petroleum Co., eight steam water-boats and a number of lighters and tugs. The Naval Authorities have

also