CO129-513-6 Hong Kong water supply- schemes for development and improvement 25-1-1929 - 2-8-1929 — Page 38

· 2

-

36

Enclo.No.2

2.

In order that the responsibility for coping with this serious situation may be shared by the community at large, I have constituted a Water Emergency Committee under the Chairmanship of the Colonial Secretary. It consists of 5 official and 33 unofficial members, among whom are all the Unofficial Members of my Legislative Council. This Committee has divided itself into working Sub-Committees which are already giving valuable advice and assistance to my Goverment.

3. The measures indicated in the statement

of the Director of Public Works are on such a scale s to necessitate the assumption by this Govern...ent of legal powers to requisition craft suitable for

4

the conveyance of water and to take over private water supplies, and I enclose a copy

2 copy of regulations made by me in Executive Council of the 13th June, under the Bergency Regulations Ordinance 1922. These regulations were approved in principle by the

Water Emergency Committee.

4.

It is imposible, at present to forecast

the total cost of the measures necessary to keep the

Colony supplied with water. uch will depend on

If

the rainfall of July, August and September.

these three months pass with the same in.dequate fall of rain's the past three, or even with a merely average fall, we shall have to procure water in bulk from outside the Colony right through next autumn and winter until arch or April 1930.

A special vote of $300,000 was approved on the 20th

June