XN000022-1976-07-21 — Page 15

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WATER SUPPLY TO KAT O

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1976

THE PRESSURE AND THE QUALITY OF THE KAT O WATER SUPPLY SHOULD BE SATIFACTORY WHEN THE NECESSARY REPAIRS NOW BEING CARRIED OUT ARE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THE VILLAGE RECEIVED ITS WATER FROM A DAM ON THE MAINLAND THROUGH AN UNDERSEA PIPELINE.

HE SAID COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM THE VILLAGERS THAT THE WATER WAS DISCOLOURED AND THAT THE PRESSURE WAS LOW.

+TESTS CARRIED OUT BY THE WATERWORKS OFFICE SHOWED THAT WHILE THERE WAS SOME RUST PRESENT, THE WATER WAS SUITABLE FOR DRINKING PROVIDED IT WAS BOILED.+

THE LOW PRESSURE, HE ADDED, WAS DUE TO BLOCKAGE AT THE INTAKE, SILTING AND INCRUSTATION OF THE PIPELINE AS WELL AS A LARGE NUMBER OF LEAKS.

REPLYING TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. CHEUNG, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SAID AN APPLICATION FROM THE TIN HAU TEMPLE MANAGEMENT BOARD AT KAT O FOR A GRANT TOWARDS THE COST OF PURCHASING A NEW VESSEL FOR THE PRIVATELY RUN LOCAL FERRY BETWEEN KAT O AND SHA TAU KOK WAS CONSIDERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECENTLY.

+THE COMMITTEE WAS UNABLE TO RECOMMEND SUCH A GRANT SINCE THE SERVICE DOES MAKE A CONSIDERABLE PROFIT, WHICH IS APPLIED TO FINANCE THE CELEBRATION OF RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS, AND NOT FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PURPOSES,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE BOARD WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE NECESSARY FUNDS FROM ITS OWN RESOURCES, AND THAT THE NEW FERRY WAS NOW IN SERVICE.

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