unlimited supply, but even at this rate there was little more than 50 days supply in hand and the position was critical.
155. Additional pumps were installed in the few local sources of water, with only a marginal improvement of the situation. The possi- bility was considered of importing water from overseas but the prospect was not encouraging. It was no longer practical to bring water by tanker from the Pearl River near Canton, as had been done during the previous drought in 1963, and the use of alternative sources did not appear to be feasible because of their distance from Hong Kong, and because of the scarcity of shipping. Further cuts in the supply periods were considered but it was physically impossible to reduce materially the existing exiguous ration.
156. It was a hot summer and there were many people who were more preoccupied with the water shortage than with the rioting that took place in July. For those living in squatter areas and the poorer tenements without a piped water supply it meant standing for long hours in the queues at the public standpipes. Those who were not fortunate enough to have salt water flushing mains installed in their homes had to eke out their allowance of fresh water to flush their lavatories. It was a sordid time for everybody: it is hardly necessary to add that no exceptions were made in the rationing scheme and that the restrictions applied to everybody from the Governor downwards.
157. The communist press made the most of the opportunity to attack the Government. It claimed that the restrictions were not neces- sary and that this was yet another example of persecution of the masses. It hinted that there were no restrictions in the Peak areas, which are mainly occupied by the more well-to-do Europeans. But these insinua- tions carried little weight and with their usual resilience the people of Hong Kong cheerfully accepted the discomfort and inconvenience of the situation.
158. The long awaited relief came with some smart showers in mid July which resolved the immediate crisis but were not sufficient to allow any improvement in the supply periods. In August there was heavy rain and for a week, from the 22nd to the 29th, a full 24 hour supply was given. The period then reverted to four hours a day which was maintained until the 6th of September. Further rain brought the storage level up to 16,000 million gallons and with some reservoirs overflowing a 24 hour supply was reintroduced. It was not at that stage known
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