ENG-1957 — Page 288

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

new one at Tai Lam Chung, were overflowing by 25th May. As a result of the torrential downpour on 21st May the hours of supply were increased from nine to 16 a day on 22nd May, and continued at this level until mid-October, when the hours were again reduced to ten. The average daily consumption for the year was 48.02 million gallons, the peak consumption being 73.08 million gallons on 28th July, the highest ever recorded. It is also interesting to note that the last time regular hours of supply were so generous was in 1950, when daily consumption was 40.5 million gallons for a 17 hour supply.

As part of the development of urban water supplies, the construction of a 5,000,000 gallons service reservoir to receive water from the new filters near Kowloon Reservoir was com- pleted. A 4,000,000 gallons service reservoir situated above Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island was also completed!

The year's work included a large programme to replace existing mains and extend the distribution system. One factor which is causing an increase in the demand for water supplies is the rapid expansion of the Colony's Resettlement Estates. In these estates mains water is provided through standpipes. The number of regular water consumers in- creases as more estates are constructed because the squatter areas, which the Tesettlement projects replace, have only very limited regular means of obtaining water. The new reclamation at Kwun Tong, which is more than two miles away from the nearest supply pipe, has involved the creation of a new distribution district. A new trunk main was laid to the reclamation.

Satisfactory progress was made on the Tai Lam Chung scheme. The main dam and the three subsidiary ones were completed. Contracts were let for the construction of about eight miles of catchwater channels. The pumping station and the filters at Tsuen Wan were almost finished. Much needed water began to be drawn from the new reservoir on 7th March, 1957.