CO129-533-4 Hong Kong Water Supply Scheme 28-1-1931 - 20-1-1932 — Page 24

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ALL COMMUNICATIONS

TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE

CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES,

THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE AND THE

DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.

Z/E.254/12.

LEGRAMS: CROWN LONDON.

TELEPHONE: 7730 VICTORIA,

11

1.

Sir,

CROWN

AGENTS

FOR

THE

COLONIES

4 MILLBANK,

2124

WESTMINSTER,

LONDON, S.W.1.

Dec

31st January 1931

16

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your

letter No.82773/31 of the 29th December regarding the Shing

Mun Valley Waterworks Scheme, Hong Kong.

2. This scheme was originally prepared by Mr.

R.M.Henderson of the Public Works Department, and is described

in his reports of the 8th April 1924, and of the 31st March 1930.

In view of the magnitude of the scheme it was thought desirable

to submit the proposals to a firm of eminent Consulting

Engineers for their advice and the firm of Sir Alex. Binnie,

Son & Deacon was selected for this purpose. Mr. Gourley, a

partner of the above firm, visited Hong Kong in January 1930,

and reported that the scheme was a good one and that the works

so far completed had been well laid out. Mr. Gourley expressed

the opinion that with certain modifications Mr.Henderson's

proposals were the most economical means of securing the

additional water supply required.

3.

The scheme includes the construction of a dam of

considerable height and although Mr.Gourley, when in Hong Kong,

examined the foundations for the dam so far as it was possible

to do so, he considered that further exploratory work was

necessary before the site could be finally approved, and it

was suggested that Mr. Binnie, the senior partner of the firm,

should visit Hong Kong and make another examination of the

foundations after the further exploratory work had been

B

Ausd. 81132

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial office.

MJ.

/completed

CA.