© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

10/19/1963 - Hong Kong’s Continuing Water Problem by C. H. G. Oldham

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT rORLD AFFAIRS CHGO lugerd Road Kong Continuin Water Ppo The Peak Hon Kons October Mr R H No Institute Current ffalrs adison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte On Monday evening October His Excel lency Sir Robert Black Governor Hon6 Kon snoke Colony radio television His principal messaci present water ratlonin hours everyfourtb would continue until summer rainy season srrives In brief speech reviewed development water crisis winter exceptional drought until present He explained measures Government adopted emergency civil servants involved copln6 He acknowleded authorities neihbourlng Chinese Province Kusndun8 praised resourcefulness industry tribute people Hon Kong responding Ith esolutlom burnout He pledged Government would strive future provide twenty daily supply finished exhortation continued economy In water Be economical point parsimony Thus Hong Kong reckon puttin8 stringent water rationing total period least The signifi cance shorta appreciat comparing Hong Eong daily capita consumption water United States Hours before water assorted containers stake their owner plaice queue water CHG0 At present Hong consttmption roughly I0 gallons person June gallous This total consumption including industry The comparable United States figure betweeo 6alloms person Whenwe first Hong Kong years water rationed hours newcomers seemed inconvenient In January I wrote newsletter CHGO which I discussed water situation explained historical background reviewed alternative method improving situation In leerthe Itution continued about fifteen months Work continued Pic Reservoir decision announced schemes inlets Plover Cove Hebe Haven create fresh water reservoirs The winter driest record And April passed May urgently needed summer rains failed arrive replenish rapidly dwindling reserves situation began serious On May Chinese authorities Eusndung Province agreed extend gallons normally supplied China Sham Chun Reservoir further million gallons But decided reduce ration May three hours twelve later weeks supply reservoirs again hours alternate An average May produces sbout inches produced Hong residents suddenly realized reachin implications water There uestion havin sufficient drink effects industry problems flushing consequent dangers health Also without water Dower companies could operate without power everything would standstill As consequence realization great variety projects undertaken produce economize wster The Government formed emergency committee consider aspects problem Taolsts released hundreds birds tortoise huddlsts formed O00 strong orocession twelve hours Christian churches special services Scienti attempted produce cloud seeding But avail The Hong Eon8 Government announce plans coping problem throughout May allay general anxiety Even formation emergency committee announced several weeks residents ofono overnment acton appeared imposition increasingly severe rationing The overnment lookin feasibility chartering tankers several weeks should public undoubtedly would democratic government One irritating features living under benevolent dictatorship exists Hong those power Government knows All official references Government article CF O serves strengthen rother For example surprisi announcement Government decided charter tsnkersL sound enevolent The overnment decided charter tankers The emergency without lighter For example woman poured bucket water policeman attempting fight between three women water queen fined HK I0 wastini An American consular official water turned house Installed ottom driveway servant covered nourin bucket water flowers In srden This gesture other slmilsr given publicity obviously demonstrate rationing restrictions applied Cocktail parties officis receptions cancelled inclu In onenin osrty Hilton Hotel It became dirty clothes Sust first anywhere smelly citizen citizen Even Shang newspaper reported sarcastically usually attractive Hon Eon Tirls being avoided obvious reasons By May clear water brought outside Colony before There brinin Japan Talwan negotla tions Chinese authorities showed principle could obtslned nearer The Chinese upply water needed Pearl River estuary about fifty miles Hong Kong Government scientists coJunctlon Chinese officials salinity survey proposed different states For worked almost Water public stand CHGO IW Fage Total Eainfall In inches Water hours Water hgurs alteate Water hours every First water PeaI Ve arrives torid sezrolr I0o million llonJ CHGO twenty One Shanghai newspaper I reported Joint scientific survey commented friendly operatlon between British Chinese offlcis It discovered conditions suitable June first chertered tukers brought cargo Pearl Biver water By water rationed hours every fourth although people squatters whose supolied public strand pipes given water alternate Finally monsoon winds brought plotted shows June depletion reser voirs finally halted Everybody watched anxiously hopefully several typhoons without releasing thelr needed August September months October I rainy season inches fallen comoared average inches Reservoirs little again total water stored began decrease October I supply Sham Chun Reservoir The usual annuel supply million gallons which normally drawn during winter months In accounted Hong Eong winter water supply But agree supply water signed provision renegotiat times drought It Just announced October rainfall Sham Chun catchment Hong Eong total storage reservoir million gallons The Inese consequently Nong supply milion usual million gallons sallons summer finished fresh water Pearl Riverdeclined though antlcipated difficulty arose Salinity water lower tanker anchorages river estuary increased The obvious solution upstream there insufficient available anchor tankers operating This problem solved moment mixing Pearl River water water reservoirs salinity continues increase problem could become serious By October tankers brought million sllons Colony mented further I0 million gallons potable water loaded regular cargo vessels naval ships using harbaur Under these circumstances surprising Government announced October rationing tankers would continue until rains Governor deemed necessary explain people Hong Kong But included announcement clear statement Government future policy respect water In first place policy provlde daily supply This important advance I frequent stated since Hon Kon8 managed quite supply there supply CHGO Two tankers chartered bring water Pearl River Photographs courtesy South China Morning Post CHG0 Secondly Government arqed principle twenty million allons fresh water should oroduced desalination relstively H5 gallons The power comoanies feasibility This provide emersency supply drouht augment reservoir supply normal times The incinerators built dispose Colony refuse source power desalination It anticipated million gallons produced Thirdly scheme calculated yield million gallons procosed This water I River river northern Dsrt New Territories times flood existing reservoirs Secial taken scheme irrication supply which Indus supplies during flood conditions Frlier Government announced intention ahead Plover Cove scheme possi bility finding under round water New Territories Noticeably missing Government statement mention another scheme discussed earlier building Hong EQng China East River distance miles Apparently scheme still being negotiated Cminese In addition inconvenience herdship caused shortage there remains serlou problem effect Colony economy Actuslly still early determine effect accurately because industries fulfill orders evere rationing reflected export statistics But indications shortse caused surprisingly little disruption Co industries For example total value export May June July actually about correspon period A report August issue Far Eastern Economic Revlew described esult survey whlch higazine dUcedoassess impact water shortage It found textile industry hardest largest companies operating about capacity The company reported orders fulfilled always quality their products suffered The large canning companies reported reduction output there dismissals either industry Undoubtedly workers short their already meagre earnings reduced It these people suffering shortage The tourist industry which Hong Kong lar6est arner foreign exchange suffered appre ciably Despite misconceptions among tourists which resulted group Japan bringing their water number tourists May June July showed increase years figures months Most hotels storage tanks provide their rationing system usually CHG0 These facts background overnor speech His comments aporopriete The Government civil servsnts Job Kuandung authorities operative despite minor friction Industry resourceful large public putting inconvenience burnout But although Government cannot responsible drought cannot completely without criticism The policy decisions announced could should several years If beenthe chartering tankers least extreme rationing could avoided The actual water brought tanke announced estimstes O00 gllons Compare gallons desalination O00 gallons which actual amount charged Hong The second criticism Government should halve public better informed emergency measures considering especially during critical month May A third criticism Government Colony scientific talents In previous letters I mentioned existence Committee Scientific Co ordination which Colonial Secretary According terms reference functlons advise Governor scientific matters called The Committee never called advice consulted several scientific problems which elated wster emergency Yours sincerely C H G Oldham Received In New York October