188626-1932-Minutes-No-11 — Page 3

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, AUGUST 19, 1932. 601

Part VI.--Public Works:-

Report of the Director of Public Works.

Sessional Papers, 1932:-

No. 4.--Colony's Water Supply. Meterage: Rider Mains.

QUESTIONS.

Efforts to check waste. Universal

5. The Hon. Mr. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D., pursuant to notice, asked the

following question:-

With reference to the questions which I put in this Council on the 19th May, 1932, and the Hon. Colonial Secretary's reply thereto, and in view of the water situation having greatly improved since that date, will the Government state whether it is prepared immediately to re-introduce a direct supply of water to the unmetered houses in the rider-main districts for, say, 8 hours a day with, if necessary, a corresponding decrease in the hours of supply to the metered houses and the street- fountains, so as to permit of a fairer distribution among all classes of the population, and to reduce the risk of a spread of cholera-infection through contamination of water-receptacles exposed in the streets, and through water being drawn from possibly contaminated sources such as nullahs and streams.

The Hon. Mr. RICHARD MCNEIL HENDERSON, (Acting Director of Public Works)

replied: -

The Government sees no reason to grant a special concession to rider main areas at the expense of metered areas, when it is prepared to grant meters as quickly as the work can be carried out to all householders who apply for them. The Water position has recently improved to such an extent that it has become possible to open some of the rider main areas without detriment to the metered areas, and this has now been done. There remain certain rider main areas in which it has not been possible to reintroduce the old rider main system. This matter forms the subject of a motion to be introduced by the Colonial Secretary this afternoon.

6. The Hon. Mr. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D., pursuant to notice, asked the

following questions :---

In view of the Government's intention to introduce universal meterage as

soon as possible, will the Government state :

(2) Whether it will lay on the table at an early date a statement

giving a history of the rider-main system.

(i) What is the number of meters applied for but not yet installed in (a) rider-main districts and (b) other districts; and when will they be installed.

(ii) Whether there is an adequate supply of meters in the Colony to meet all demands for meters to be installed in the rider-main districts and other districts.

(iv) How long will it take to have meters installed in all the unmetered houses in the rider-main districts due regard being given to the possibility of installing a meter on each floor of every tenement-house.

The Hon. Mr. RICHARD MCNEIL HENDERSON, (Acting Director of Public Works)

replied:-

(i) This statement has been laid on the table to-day.

(ii)--(a) 2,100.

(b) Including Kowloon 400.

1