HC Deb 11 February 1964 vol 689 cc193-4
7. Dr. Bray

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements the Hong Kong Government have made to obtain a piped supply of fresh river water to augment the Colony's water supply; and for how many hours per day the water supply is expected to be available to the public during the next dry season.

Mr. Fisher

The Chinese Government have recently indicated their intention to undertake a scheme for bringing water from the East River to their reservoir at Shum Chun. This will make increased supplies from the reservoir available to Hong Kong. Technical discussions are now taking place.

It is not yet possible to give any forecast of the hours of supply during the next dry season.

Dr. Bray

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the great inconvenience which has been caused to the people of Hong Kong by the restriction of water supply? Will he treat this as a matter of the utmost urgency and make sure that the increased supply is available by the next dry season?

Mr. Fisher

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has raised the matter. It has been a very serious problem and supplies have been very restricted, as he knows, due to the low rainfall, but the Hong Kong Government are taking very urgent action both in the short term and in the long term, by constructing new reservoirs and so on, and I hope that the situation may soon be eased.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

Does my hon. Friend agree that all sections of the population of Hong Kong have faced this difficulty with great cheerfulness, discipline and courage, and will he do his best to see that their plight is remedied as soon as possible?

Mr. Fisher

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. What he says is perfectly true. I must be frank with the House and say that the supplies from the source I mentioned in my Answer are not, I regret to say, likely to be available by the beginning of the next dry season.