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(III.)-Water Supply and Water Pressure.
Generally speaking the water supply for fire purposes is good. It is controlled by the Water Authority, a Sub-Department of the P.W.D. The pressure in Victoria is good though it varies considerably in different districts at different hours. Group Hydrants have been supplied throughout the City as shown in Appendix D. The group hydrants consist of groups of three hydrants at important points. The motor pumps are worked off a dam which is kept filled by the 3 hydrants which are close together, one hydrant being insufficient for the purpose as the draw off by the pump is too great. Before the introduction of group hydrants much time was lost in connecting up two or three hydrants situated some distance apart to feed the dam. 'It is further proposed to pump direct from the mains when possible by means of 3 way collecti heads fitted direct to the suction of the pump, thus avoiding the me fa dam, as theater entails a good deal of waste of water and loss of pressure in the mains. The only difficulty which still exists as regards water pressure in the City is on the upper levels. These cannot be reached by the Motor Pumps, as there is no motor road to such levels as Queen's Gardens, May Road and Conduit Road. The danger of serious conflagrati ns on these levels is however slight as the houses are detached or semi-detached. The pressure in the mains is sufficient to confine an outbreak to the premises it starts in. The same remarks apply to the Peak where the fire appliances are confined to Despatch Boxes containing hose and standpipes and nozzles which are worked direct off the mains.
In Kowloon group hydrants have been provided as shown in Appendix D). The pressure is very good indeed in Sham Shui Po (Sai Kok) which is now connected up by a 10" main to the 12" principal feed main. This main is also available in Shanghai Street up to Waterloo Road. Tsim Sha Tsui is as yet not getting the benefit of the 15" main in Coronation Road as this main cannot be connected to the 18" main in Taipo Road until the Nathan end of Coronation Road is driven through the hill. It is anticipated that this connection will be through in about a year. Hunghom is supplied by an 8" main. The principal buildings at Tsim Sha Tsui, e.g., The Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co.'s premises and Holt's Wharf are served by the Fire Floats as are also the Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co.'s premises. Outlying shipyards are mainly protected by the Fire Floats. Such premises however should have and mostly do have their own fire appliances to supplement the Government Fire Brigade. The owners of premises where there are furnaces, blacksmith's shops and matsheds cannot expect the entire fire protection of their premises to be undertaken by the Fire Brigade. They should have their own fire service as is the case already on all such premises as H.M. Naval Yard, The Kowloon & Whampoa Docks and the Tai Koo Docks.
(IV.)-—Estimate of Cost of Fire Brigade.
The upkeep of the Fire service at present costs $77,243 p.a. made up as follows:-
Personal Emoluments
Other Charges
Total
Special expenditure on new appliances for the year
1921 is estimated at
To which $16,600 must be added owing to loss in
exchange and higher prices prevailing now
Total
$ 40,543 36,700
$ 77,243
$ 11,220
16,600
$ 27,820
The proposed expenditure entailed by the re-organization of the Brigade which includes all changes except Buildings is as follows:-
Personal Emoluments
Other Charges
$ 59,102
49,500
Total
$108,602
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