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Q-How far it has been carried out, how far it is being carried out, and if there have been any departures from it, and the reasons?
A-Yes.
By Mr. SHEWAN.-Do you think that there is a great saving in the present system of shutting off the water?
A--Undoubtedly.
Because there are a great many houses where they store the water in every available vessel in the house, and I think this leads to a great deal more waste. Is that not so?
A-That is a great evil of the system, and people are altogether absurd in their ideas in many cases. They fill a bath-tub full and in an hour they have to use the bath-tub, and have to let the water run to waste.
Q-Would it not be better to shut off the water instead, and let them go to the hydrants with buckets?
A-That would mean disconnecting the houses, and I am afraid it would involve a very large amount in compensation, because I presume you could not do that with- out paying compensation. These people have been allowed to have services laid on to
all their houses.
Q-Is it not a matter that can be compulsorily enforce l?
A-Anything is possible, I believe, by legislation.
Q-You say that the service pipe is too small; who is responsible for it being too small for the terraces? Is it the landlord or the Public Works Department?
A-It is a little difficult to answer that without enquiring. It is quite possible that it is due to our Department. We may have laid the service to that lot of houses, but then, you see everything was designed for the conditions existing at the time. The Water Authority has power to determine the sizes of service pipes, but, whether he exercised his power in the case under consideration, I am unable to say. Everything has been designed for the constant system of supply.
Q.-The people who designed the works did not look to the growth of Hongkong. The growth of Hongkong is the cause of the want of water. The proper thing would be to have more reservoirs and spend some money in making them ?
A-Yes.
By the Chairman.—Could you also let us have figures showing the expenditure on the water supply during the past ten years ?
A-Yes.
***
By Mr. SHEWAN-Since 1894, you said you had only had one addition to your staff?
A-Two.
Q-Well, has the work grown much more in proportion ?
A-It has doubled quite.
Q-Don't you think that, in regard to the work done, there seems to be some delay ?
A-We have to conform to a good many rules and regulations as regards proceed- ing with work, but the same thing would occur if private firms were employed. I
* See Appendix No. 5.
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