174
489
490
I
2
·
( 42 )
Q-But none went to waste this year?
A-None.
Q-In the same way the upper reservoirs would not have assisted greatly?
A-Not this year.
Q-It comes to this that, in a year of minimum rainfall, there would be no assist- ance from these reservoirs ?
A-Unless, of course, they have a certain amount of water which has not been drawn in previous years.
Q-The low level reservoir system would be much more expensive?
A-It would be more expensive both in up-keep and in laying down.
3
Q-The water rate would increase, I suppose?
A-It would probably be necessary to raise it.
4
5
6
7
8
Q-For everybody?
A-Yes.
Q-And the water rate would probably go much higher had we to bring the water from the other side?
A-It probably would. The water rate of Hongkong at present is considerably less than any rate in England. It is 25 cents here, and I should say it is generally the equivalent of 50 cents at home.
By Mr. Shewan.-This year's rainfall has been the minimum for many years past?
A-Yes, I think for many years. I think it was in 1894 that we had only 45 inches of rain. It is difficult to say, in a year like this, how much rainfall is actually required to fill a reservoir. The question, of course, is to catch water wherever you can, and, if you still don't have water enough, then make up your minds to build reservoirs here, there, and everywhere, and you will have enough. The question, of course, in building a reservoir is to take the greatest area and the minimum rainfall and have sufficient actual catchment area to give you a certain yield.
Q-If you can't get big reservoirs, you can get small ones here and there?
A-Yes, we can do that in some cases.
Q-When you cut off the water, as you have been doing lately, do you make any saving?
A-Roughly we cut down the consumption one half.
9
Q-In many houses you increase the consumption by the waste?
500
2
A--Yes, that is one of the troubles we have amongst the poorer quarters.
-What is the cause?
A-It is probably due to the fact that the service that was put in won't let the water through.
Q--Whose fault is this?
A-That, of course, is the fault of the landlords.
Q-What I refer to is private owners.
A-It is due to Government now to look after this. I have had several instances brought under my notice where the first two or three tenants got water and the others
That was on account of the smallness of the pipe.
none.
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