XN000022-1976-04-07 — Page 8

Wednesday, April 7, 1976

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LONG NET CHONG RESERVOIR TO BE USED FOR BOATING

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The Government intends to use the Wong Nei Chong reservoir for

boating in an attempt to meet the need for this activity on Hong Kong Island.

This was disclosed by the Secretary for Home Affairs, the Hon.

Denis Bray, in the Legislative Council this afternoon in reply to points

raised by his Unofficial Colleagues during the resumed budget debate.

He said the reservoir was a small one and the loss of its water

would not force Hong Kong to water rationing.

The Water Authority, he added, would disconnect this reservoir

from the water supply system and hand it to the Director of Agriculture and

Fisheries for use as part of a recreation area.

"In the light of this experiment, the Water Authority will also

consider whether boating can be permitted at Tytam Reservoir and at Tai Lan

Chung," Mr. Bray said.

He explained that the need for boating was greater on Hong Kong

Island as there were no sheltered lagoons which were readily accessible to

those living in the urban areas.

On the question of using High Island Reservoir for boating, Mr. Bray

said considerable problems with shore facilities would have to be overcome

inside the reservoir because of the very substantial rise and fall of the

water level.

He said that sheltered sea water in the eastern areas of the New

Territories was better for boating, easier to get at, and easier to develop

for boating than the reservoirs.

/Turning