CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Cypher
D. 9 August, 1967
R. 9
事繫
體
07152
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1188
t
30
AUG
息
LAST
REF.
REXT
REF.
My immediately preceding telegram.
Water.
Hong Kong has had much less than average rainfall in the past 12 months. The Chinese have supplied us with all and more than the water they contracted to supply in the period up to 30 June, and contract does not provide for further supply until 1 October. Although they indicated in November 1966 that they could supply more in July-September, they have ignored all subsequent requests for it.
2. There is no indication that they will fail to resume the contractual supply on 1 October, but we must prepare for this eventuality.
3. We are considering feasibility of using tankers to import fresh water in bulk and we should therefore be grateful if you could discreetly obtain some technical information. We must avoid giving impression we expect Chinese to fail to honour agreement to supply. Please therefore take line that tentative enquiries are being made because storage position plus exceptional lack of rainfall make it necessary to explore all possible sources of supply. This is the line we shall take publicly here if questioned.
4. Shell Co. have offered to obtain for us marine information through their London office.
5. Information required where piped supply is available:
(A)
(B)
(C)
Chemical and bacteriological characteristics of water.
Maximum sustained hourly delivery rate at berth, which could be used to supply 20,000 or 70,000 ton tankers.
Distance from berthing points of points where delivery rate of 15 million imperial gallons per 24 hours is available.
(D) Comment on feasibility and time factor in
bringing water at this rate from points in (C) to points in (B) by, e.g. laying pipline (pumping station may be required?).
(E) Price of water.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
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