ENG-1968 — Page 242

12

Public Works and Utilities

HONG KONG's programme of public works--ranging from the formation and reclamation of land, the building of resettlement estates, schools and hospitals to the construction of roads, sewers, piers and reservoirs-is the Colony's largest single financial com- mitment. Capital expenditure is estimated at $366 million or 19 per cent of the annual estimates for 1968-9. Of this sum $76 million is to be spent on water supplies and $11 million on resettlement and government low-cost housing.

=

WATER SUPPLIES

The year under review was one of promise for the Water Authority, contrasting dramatically with the previous year during which the problems presented by the mass walk-out of labour followed by a severe drought had to be faced. The summer of 1968 will be re- membered for very high temperatures (the highest for 68 years), record water storage reserves and for peak demands exceeding 170 million gallons per day.

Full supply to consumers was maintained throughout the year. A favourable storage position early in April permitted a 24 hours supply to be maintained but with a marked drop in the salinity of water by discontinuing supplies from Plover Cove.

The Chinese Authorities continued the supply from their Shum Chun reservoir, and during the period from October 1967 to June 1968, 15,023 million gallons were purchased from them. The supply was resumed on October 1, 1968 in accordance with the current agreement with the Peoples Council of Kwangtung Province.

The main interest and activity again centred on the Plover Cove scheme which neared culmination, at a cost of nearly $600 million, ten years after the idea of a reservoir from the sea was conceived. Finishing off operations on the main dam and pumping station were in hand for final completion of the scheme by the end of the