CO129-584-9 Water Supply- Tai Lam Chung Valley reservoir 23-1-1940 - 30-3-1940 — Page 17

Z/E.254/17.

17

COPY OF LETTER FROM MESSRS. BINNIE, DEACON & GOURLEY, TO THE CROWN AGENTS.

Artillery House,

Gentlemen,

Artillery Row,

Victoria Street,

Westminster, S.W.1.

28th February, 1940.

Hong Kong Water Supply.

Tai Lam Chaung Valley Scheme.

We are much obliged to you for your letter of the

26th February (Z/E254/17) informing us that it is desired that one

of the partners should visit Hong Kong early in March.

We have given careful consideration to the information

which you kindly sent us on the 20th instant, with the following

result.

There are two suggested sites for the main dam, referred

to hereafter as the Upper and Lower, a considerable amount of

information having been obtained with regard to the former by means

of boreholes put down to ascertain the depth to which foundations

would have to be carried.

The Upper Site is attractive on account of its elevation

above sea level (330 ft. T.W.L.) and the large capacity of a

reservoir which could be formed by means of a main dam having a

maximum height of about 180 feet and a length of about 1,800 feet.

A subsidiary dam would also be required, but we have received no

information with regard to this work.

The construction of the main dam would involve a very

large expenditure owing to the dimensions of the work and the depth

to which foundations would have to be carried, as at two points

suitable material for foundations had not been reached at a depth

of 150 feet from the surface, one of these boreholes indicating the

presence of a major dislocation of the strata.

We should not therefore recommend the construction of a dam

at this site if a more favourable one could be found.

The Lower Site: The construction of a dam at the proposed

Lower site would necessitate pumping the water to a greater height.

The/