THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 23, 1929. 325
8. The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. SHENTON, pursuant to notice, asked the following ques-
tions:-
Will the Government give this Council the following information:---
1. The present position of the water supply in this Colony?
2. What measures have the Government already taken or planned to
meet the present water shortage.
(a) By obtaining supplies of water outside the Colony.
(b) By improving the water supplies within the Colony?
3. What plans have the Government for preventing the recurrence of
the present shortage of water?
The Director of Public Works replied as follows :-
The total quantity of water in the storage and service reservoirs on the island on the morning of the 17th June amounted to 192.75 million gallons. The average drop since June 1 (with fully one inch rainfall) has been 3.2 million gallons a day, which means that, under similar conditions, there is storage to last until 16th August.
The daily rate of draw-off will, however, be decreased by further curtailment of the hours of supply, as further outside sources of supply are brought to Hong Kong for the benefit chiefly of those sections of the community on the lower levels who are at present the principal sufferers.
The Daily Consumption.
The total daily consumption from all sources has been reduced to 4 million gallons as against a maximum 1928 summer supply of 12 million gallons a day. Compared with last June the High Levels consumption has decreased by about 40% and the same reduction applies to all metered services in the City.
At present all the reservoirs, excepting Tytam, are practically empty, and it is of interest to record that, with the exception of the Pokfulam Reser- voir, there is no evidence of silting. The Pokfulam Reservoir has silted to the extent of 3 or 4 millions gallons due to the construction of the section of Stubbs Road within the catchment area. The total loss in storage in the island reservoirs due to siltage is about 0.2 of 1%.
In Kowloon the total quantity of water in the storage and service reservoirs
on 17th June amounted to 80.51 million gallons.
The yield from the Shing Mun River since 1st June (with a 2 inch rainfall) has averaged 1.50 million gallons a day, but at times it has dropped to less than 1 million gallons a day.
The average daily drop in storage since 1st June has been 0.75 million gallons so that with but a small rainfall Kowloon should have storage for about 3 months. It is hoped that it may soon be possible to increase the hours of supply in Kowloon, but it must be bourne in mind that Kowloon may have to continue contributing supplies to Hong Kong from Laichikok for many months-possibly until next year's rain set in. As regards subsidiary water supplies the Shaukiwan and Aberdeen Village supplies are in a fairly secure position, and only a few light showers are necessary to keep the streams supplying these water works with sufficient for the normal consumption.
Arrangements have been made for all Government vessels to obtain their
supplies from these sources during the present shortage.
The Repulse Bay supply (from Wongneichong Reservoir) is almost exhausted, but arrangements have been made to deliver water by water boat from Stanley or Aberdeen, should it completely fail. Less than 10,000 gallons a day would suffice to maintain an emergency supply to this district.
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