XN000022-1976-10-01 — Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1976

MORE WATER FROM CHINA

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MORE WATER FROM CHINA BEGAN FLOWING INTO HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS TODAY UNDER THE RECENTLY REVISED WATER AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.

THE INCREASED FLOW, WHICH RAISES HONG KONG'S ANNUAL FRESH WATER SUPPLY FROM THE EAST RIVER FROM 18,500 MILLION GALLONS TO 24,000 MILLION GALLONS, BEGAN AT 8 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING WHEN THE P.W.D.'S WATERWORKS OFFICE OPENED THE NEWLY EXTENDED PIPELINE SYSTEM AT MUK WU NEAR THE BORDER.

THE INCREASE WAS AGREED ON IN JUNE THIS YEAR DURING TALKS BETWEEN THE NOW RETIRED DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. BILL KNIGHT, AND SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WATER AUTHORITIES OF KWANGTUNG PROVINCE.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE WATER WILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN THE 10-MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER TO JULY, LEAVING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER FOR NECESSARY MAINTENANCE WORKS. THE PRICE PAID BY HONG KONG FOR CHINESE WATER REMAINS AT THE PRESENT RATE OF ABOUT $1.30 PER THOUSAND GALLONS.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AGREEMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED A CRASH CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME TO EXTEND THE ORIGINAL WATER PIPELINE SYSTEM AND PUMPING FACILITIES AT MUK WU TO COPE WITH THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.

MR. TOM TOMLINSON, THE P.W.D.'S PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER WHO HAD HELPED NEGOTIATE THE EXTRA SUPPLY, SAID TODAY THE EXTENSION WORKS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE A FEW DAYS AGO IN TIME FOR DELIVERY TO START ON THE AGREED DATE.

THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS, WHICH COST ABOUT $6.5 MILLION, INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY PUMPING STATION AT MUK WÚ AND A 600-METRE LONG 1370 M.M. DIAMETER PIPELINE ON THE HONG KONG SIDE OF THE BORDER TO CONNECT WITH A SECOND PIPELINE LAID EARLIER BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FROM THE SHUM CHUN RESERVOIR.

+DURING THE ENTIRE OPERATION, WHICH HAD TO CONTINUE ROUND THE CLOCK IN ORDER TO MEET THE OCTOBER 1 DEADLINE, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WERE EXTREMELY CO-OPERATIVE AND PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION AND COPIES OF PLANS SO THAT OUR ENGINEERS COULD CO-ORDINATE WORK WITH THAT CARRIED OUT EARLIER ON THE CHINESE SIDE, HE SAID.

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MR. TOMLINSON SAID THE MUK WU PUMPING STATION HAD INITIALLY BEEN +BEEFED UP+ WITH TWO TEMPORARY WATER PUMPS TO COPE WITH THE EXTRA FLOW WHICH WOULD BE ROUTED THROUGH THE PLOVER COVE SYSTEM TO THE SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS AND THEN INTO THE MAINS TO CONSUMERS, HE ADDED.