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5.
A most heartening development of the last few days has been the
heavy rainfall which has filled the water reservoirs almost to their
full capacity; the existing rationing scheme has accordingly been
temporarily lifted. Our plan is to have a total of 15,100 million
gallons in storage at the 30th September. This would make it possible
to maintain a limited water supply throughout the period of the dry season
even if supplies from China are not resumed when they fall due on
1st October (there is no reason at present to believe that the Chinese
will not resume supplies on that date in accordance with the Agreement
with them concluded in 1964). The amount of water in storage on 22nd
August was 14,829 million gallons. This is 5,729 million gallons in
excess of the target figure for that date. In addition, there are
6,280 million gallons in the new Plover Cove reservoir although the use
of this water may initially be affected by problems of salinity. Despite
this currently favourable supply position, contingency planning for an
operation to transport water to the Colony by tankers is proceeding and last
week a tanker expert from Shell International was sent out from London to
assist in this exercise.
6. Although there has been no evidence that the Chinese have at any
time made a policy decision to cut off food supplies, conditions in
Kwangtung, the closing of the road across the border after recent
incidents and the activities of local Communists, engaged in the food
trade, have led to intermittent inferruptions. Supplies by sea, which
normally account for well over 70% of all food from China, have been
fully maintained. Investigations are being made with a view to securing
supplies from other sources and in this connection Hong Kong has
despatched a mission to Japan and South Korea. We are assisting in these
investigations and in particular examining the possibility of drawing
upon United Kingdom meat stockpiles.
/7. July's
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