Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 95

91

HONG KONG.

No.

4 1932

COLONY'S WATER SUPPLY.

EFFORTS TO CHECK WASTE. UNIVERSAL METERAGE: RIDER MAINS.

1. Prior to the year 1889 the Colony's water supply was derived from the Pok- fulam Reservoir. The storage capacity of this reservoir was only 66 million gallons, and the daily quantity of water which it could supply, in a season of abundant rain- fall, was probably not more than one million gallons; considerably less in dry seasons. Owing to the inadequacy of this supply the water was distributed, for the greater part of each year, on the intermittent system. The result of this most unsatisfactory system was then, as always, a scanty supply and a relatively enormous waste of water. A rate of 2% covered the use of all water.

2. In 1889 the new Tytam works were completed, and, with an improved supply, it was considered desirable that an Ordinance should be passed regulating the Colony's water supply. The Waterworks Ordinance of 1890 (No. 16 of 1890) was accordingly passed on the 21st July, 1890.

3. As early as 1883 Mr. Osbert Chadwick, C.M.G., M.Inst. C.E., M. Inst. M.E. had, at the request of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, submitted suggestions for a proposed Water Ordinance for Hong Kong. In his memorandum dated 5th April, 1883, Mr. Chadwick, dealing with the question of the waste of water, which it was desired to check, wrote:

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At present the payment of 2 per cent on the annual assessed rental of a tene- ment, entitles the inhabitant to provide himself with whatever pipes and service he pleases. He may

use water to any extent without paying more than a person who has a single tap and uses it for strictly domestic purposes only. Now if this state of things be allowed to continue, and if a minority are allowed to use and waste water absolutely without control, the supply, even when enlarged to the utmost extent practicable, will not suffice for this and for the ordinary wants of the com- munity.

The only practically effective method of checking wanton and extravagant abuse of water, without unduly restricting its reasonable and legitimate use, is to make the payment for water more or less proportional to the quantity used by each consumer, in short to impose such water-rates as will ensure to all, for a moderate sum, the quantity of water strictly necessary for their daily domestic wants, whilst extra payment is demanded for that used for purposes of trade or luxury.

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* * The payment for water, according to quantity and manner of using is thoroughly equitable. The statement that the unstinted use of water like light and air, should be free to all mankind is based on sentiment, not logic. Water rates are charged, not for the water itself, but for the cost. of storing and conveying it to the dwelling of the consumer.]'

4. Under Ordinance No. 16 of 1890 a free house service was allowed to every tenement on which rates (which included a water rate of 2 per cent. on assessed rental) were paid. This free unmetered supply was granted contrary to the recommenda- tions in Mr. Chadwick's Memorandum of the 5th April, 1883, and also in his Menior- andum of the 12th January, 1890, on the original draft of Ordinance No. 16 of 1890. In this latter Memorandum he wrote:

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"If proper precautions be not taken, waste may assume very serious proportions. It may far exceed the actual consumption.*

A single tap, not a large one, flowing continuously, will discharge about 7,500 gallons in 24 hours, or about 1 per