CO129-513-6 Hong Kong water supply- schemes for development and improvement 25-1-1929 - 2-8-1929 — Page 27

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also been good enough to place their steam water-boat

"Cherub" at the disposal of this Government.

The tonnage

of the craft above enumerated is, of course, not adequate

for the full development of the services outlined in

paragraph 2 of this despatch and the Controller is

negotiating for the hire of certain coasting steamers and

the purchase of a second and larger tanker.

5.

A summary of the position, as it stood on

the 8th of July, is given in the enclosed copy of a

Enclosure No. 2 statement made by the Director of Public Works at a meeting

of the Water Emergency Committee held on that date.

On

Unfortun-

the 11th July the Chinese community held a further meeting

at the Tung Wa Hospital which, thanks to the tactful efforts

of the Chinese Members of Legislative Council, passed

without any untoward incident. As might be expected,

however, there was a strong demand for more liberal service.

through the mains, both the inconvenience and the cost of

carrying from the tanks being very considerable. ately the configuration of the Colony is such that, in order to give a two-hours' supply by pipe to all parts of the city,

it would be necessary to keep the principal mains full for

12 hours daily with the result that consumption would be

practically doubled and, although it may be possible to

operate the outside supply to Tytam Tuk at a considerably

lower cost than that indicated by Mr. Creasy in his state-

ment, the cost of the Chinese proposal would be prohibitive,

unless special revenue in the shape of a greatly increased

water-rate were forthcoming. A suggestion for such increase

was put to the Meeting, but the issue seems to have been

avoided.

6.

In order to secure a more rigid economy in

consumption on the part of those having metered supplies

connected directly to the principal mains, and therefore

having