CO129-598-1 Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Project 19-12-1945 - 23-6-1948 — Page 46

2 /E/254/17

19 NOV 1946

46

AIR MAIL.

sir,

We have the honour to refer to telegram No.421 dated the 25th June, 1946, addressed by the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the engagement of Messrs, Le Grand Sutcliffe and Gell to undertake investigations in connection with the Tai Lam Chung water supply Scheme.

As a result of discussions with Mr. W. Woodward, Waterworks Engineer, Hong Kong, during his recent visit to the United Kingdom and of negotiations with Messrs. Le Grand Sutcliff and Gell, the firm submitted a tender dated the 2nd September, 1946, which Mr. Woodward saw and approved before he left for Hong Kong, and the details of which are embodied in our letter to the firm dated the 17th October,1946, a copy of which is attached.

From their reply dated the 22nd October, a copy of which is also attached, it will be seen that they raise two queries on our letter of the 17th October the first concerning the assurance of the Electrical Resistivity Survey instruments arriving at Hong Kong in workable condition, and the second,requesting that local labour should be supplied to assist the Geophysicist.

We informed the London office of the Hong Kong Government accordingly, sending copies of the letters dated the 17th and 22nd October, and stating that in our view the first query involved a risk which could not be avoided, and that the second stipulation made by the Firm could be accepted.

With this view the London Office of the Hong Kong Government agreed, and a copy of their letter S416/21/2 of the 6th November, is enclosed.

We have, therefore, informed Messrs. Le Grand Sutcliff that the reservations contained in their letter of the 22nd October can be agreed to, and have requested them to make the necessary preliminary arrangements for proceeding with the work.

Mr. Woodward informed us that he would arrange to inform us by telegram when the drilling equipment which Messrs. Le Grand Sutcliff and Gell will operate, and which is now on order for the Hong Kong Government, arrives in Hong Kong.

On receipt of this telegram Messrs. Le Grand will be instructed to arrange for the departure of the Geophysicist and Driller.

We may add that Messrs.Binnie Deacon Gourley who reported on the Tai Lam Chung Scheme in 1940 have been informed by both Mr. Woodward and ourselves of the work which it is proposed that Messrs. Le Grand Sutcliff and Gell should under take. Messrs. Rinnie state that this work will furnish information which will enable them to advise whether the dam site now to be investigated, will be more economical than the site envisaged in their 1940 Report.

The Colonial Secretary,

HONG KONG

We have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient Servants,

GFD.

for the Crown Agents.

KWF