Let us briefly consider a previous drought, occurring in 1886, which did much to stimulate interest in the water-supply problem, and led to considerable improvements.
A letter from Government House, dated May 26, 1886, addressed to the Commodore, is on record, which states: "The Colony being on the eve of a water famine that will entail the severest hardships on the poorer classes and which may induce epidemic or sickness from the use of foul and polluted water to which the people in their extremity are now having to resort, I am compelled to invite your assistance and to request that no water from the Naval Yard three inch pipe be permitted to be used for launches, steam boilers, machinery washing or other services or industrial purposes.
"I may mention that I am endeavouring generally to limit the use of water, more especially among the European community, to strictly domestic purposes.
How history, unfortunately in this case, doth repeat itself!
Lane, Crawford's were again to the fore. It is shown in further correspondence during May, 1886, that Lane, Crawford & Co., were supplying the naval vessel Victor Emanuel with water, and agreed to lend the Navy a water tank capable of holding about 30 tons pending an improvement in the water supply situation. In another letter that month we find it mentioned that arrangements had been concluded with Messrs. Lane, Crawford for the use of their four lighters in the transport of water to the public.
In a letter from the head of the Public Works Department at the time there is a note that the P.W.D. had been directed by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to place at the disposal of the Commodore the department's water-boat. The Government were to defray the cost of the daily water services by this boat so long as it was found necessary to employ the larger lighter of Lane, Crawford & Co. which the Commodore had kindly relinquished in favour of the Government.
The drought appears to have ended abruptly at the end of May, probably owing to a welcome fall of rain, for a letter dated Government House, June 1, 1886, signed by Mr. Marsh, O.A.G., informs the Commodore that "the usual water supply to the Naval Yard which you were good enough to place at my disposal during the drought need not be any longer required."
The water-boat above mentioned was also no longer required, and was returned to its usual service.
Thus ended one of the recurrent water crises of the Colony's history.
Every Governor of Hongkong since Sir Henry Pottinger has had his own peculiar difficulties to face. This Colony has made progress as the records amply testify. Sometimes the maintenance of law and order has presented acute problems; sometimes the Colony has been on the verge of bankruptcy. One problem seems to have been common to all Administrators - supplying the population with water.
Many residents will remember the drought of 1929.
It was a disastrous business altogether, but it led to the active commencement of work on the Shing Mun Dam. Twenty-seven years earlier another terrible drought caused untold hardships in Hongkong.
The following article is taken from the files of the Hongkong Telegraph of May 5, 1902:
Page 245
Page 246
4
Let us briefly consider a previous drought, occurring in 1886, which did much to stimulete interest in the water- supply problem, end led to considerable improvements.
A letter from Government House, dated May 26, 1886, addressed to the Commodore, is on record, which states: "The Colony being on the eve of a weter famine thet will entail the severest hardships on the poorer classes and which may induce epidemic or sickness from the use of foul and polluted water to which the people in their extremity are now heving to recourse, I am compelled to invite your assistance and to request that no water from the Naval Yard three inch pipe be permitted to be used for launches, steam boilers, machinery washing or other services or industrial purposes.<
"I may mention that I am endeavouring gene rally to limit the use of water, more especially among the European community, to strictly domestic purposes. 體
How history, unfortunately int his case, doth repeat itself!
Lane, Crawford's were again to the fore. It is shown in further correspondence during May, 1886, that Lane, Crawford & Co., were supplying the naval vessel Victor Emanuel with water, and agreed to lend the Navy a water tank capable of holding about 30 tons pending en improvement in the water supply situation. In another letter that month we find it mentioned that arrangements had been concluded with Messrs. Lane, Crawford for the use of their four lighters in the transport of water to the public.
•
In a letter from the head of the Public Works Department at the time there is a note that the P.W.D. had been directed by His Excellency the Ofifoer Administering the Government to place at the disposal of the Commodore the department's water-boat. The Government were to defray the cost of the daily water services by this boat so long as it was found necessary to employ the larger lighter of Lane, Crawford & Co. which the Commodore had kindly relinquished in favour of the Government
7
The drought appears to have ended abruptly at the end of May, probably owing to a welcome fall of rain, for a letter dated Government House, June 1, 1886, signed by Mr. Marsh, O.A.G., informs the Commodore that "the usual water supply to the Naval Yard which you were good enough to place at my disposal during the drought need not be any longer required."
The weter-boat above mentioned was also no longer required, end was returned to its usuel service.
+
Thus ended one of the recurrent water crises of the Colony's, history.
Every Governor of Hongkong since Sir Henry Pottinger has had his own peculiar difficulties to face. This Colony has made progress as the records amply testify. Sometimes the maintenence of law and order has presented acute problems; sometimes the Colony has been on the verge of bankruptcy. One problem seems to have been common to all Administrators - supplying the population with water.
F
Many residents will remember the drought of 1929.
It was
a disastrous business altogether, but it led to the active commencement of work on the Shing Mun Dam. Twenty-seven years earlier another terrible drought caused untold hardships in Hongkong.
The following article is taken from the files of the Hongkong egraph of May 5, 1902:
Page 245Page 246
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