CO129-533-4 Hong Kong Water Supply Scheme 28-1-1931 - 20-1-1932 — Page 69

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Engineers estimate that the water available will suffice for

estimated requirements until about the year 1945, provided

that the estimated annual increments of demand are not

exceeded.

5. In paragraph 62 of the report the Consulting

Engineers draw attention to the necessity of investigating

suitable sources of sand supply.

6. The Consulting Engineers in paragraphs 60 to 65

consider the method which should be adopted for constructing

the works, and recommend that the work be carried out without

the services of a major contractor. If however the Colonial

Government consider it desirable to place the work out to

tender the Consulting Engineers think that the Government

should specify the plant which should be employed upon the

work in order to ensure that the work may be carried out

economically. This proposal is a novel one, and would appear

to prevent the contractors utilising such plant as they

might possess. If the Government purchases the necessary

plant, one of the advantages which is normally obtained by

construction by contract ceases to operate.

7. The Consulting Engineers estimate that, at current

prices, the cost of completing the main and subsidiary dams

and works ancillary thereto, including contingencies but not

engineering or supervision will amount to $8,000,000.

8. With regard to paragraphs 42 and 43 of the report

which deal with the investigation of the site of the Shing Mun

Gorge dam, the Consulting Engineers inform us that Mr Binnie

is leaving for Singapore in the Autumn and could visit the

site in order to inspect the foundations as revealed by the

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