Secretariat file 1100/450.
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 30%
Answin (14/ling)
30
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
22no December, 1948.
Enclosure 1
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to your telegram
(1) No.1119 of the 1st November, 1948, on the subject of the
(1)
Tai Lam Chung project and to forward for your information a copy of a plan showing the areas which would be affected if the scheme for extending the storage capacity on the Island referred to in paragraph four of my despatch No.142 of the 24th June, 1948, were adopted.
2.
As indicated in the references on the plan, the blue colouring shows existing reservoirs and catchment areas while the red colouring shows the new reservoirs and catchments which would be required. This would involve an additional flooded area of about 230 acres and would eliminate practically the whole of the Shouson Hill area which has been developed as a residential suburb together with a considerable tract of agricultural land. It would also cover some two miles of the Aberdeen-Repulse Bay road with its sewers and electric cables. The Military Magazine is also located in the area, and although I am anxious to have it removed to an area where it would prove less of a hazard to the civilian population I have recently had to agree most reluctantly to its continuing at its present site and I foresee that it may be some years before it is eventually replaced.
3.
These factors would make such a scheme very expensive to undertake since, apart from the capital cost of the works, there would be a heavy charge by way of compensation for resumptions and the added cost of replacing a main road and other services. The quantity of water which would be impounded amounts to 2,500 million gallons giving a potential average daily yield of 51⁄2 million gallons, the whole of which would have to be pumped to the supply areas at considerable additional cost. A daily supply of 51⁄2 million gallons might seem at first sight to justify the very heavy expenditure, but the following considerations show that the scheme would in fact fall far short of the Island's requirements.
4.
Owing to the acute shortage of water during the dry season from October to April, it is necessary each year to resort to drastic restrictions during these months even at the risk of public health and the efficiency of the fire services. In spite of these restrictions, the average daily consumption on the Island alone in 1947/48 was 18.65 million gallons. Restrictions have again been imposed as from 1st December, 1948. The existing resources on the Island can supply only 11 million gallons per day and the balance is obtained from the mainland through the cross-harbour pipe-line. Thus, the addition of 51⁄2 million gallons a day would still leave a deficiency of 2 million gallons per
/day below the
Unais
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ARTHUR CREECH JONES, M.P.
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