A study of Hong Kong's water shortage in the 1960s = 1960年代香港水荒研究

Abstract

The 1960s marked a turning point in Hong Kong’s water supply policy. Instead of relying exclusively on ponds built to store rainwater, the city switched to a mixed water supply model and began to import water from the Dongjiang River. This policy change was adopted in response to several serious water shortages, especially the one that occurred in 1963–1964. In that case the city imposed a watering ban that lasted for one year, supplying only four hours of water every four days. The ban resulted in industrial production suspension and a reduction of production in Hong Kong that greatly affected residents’ daily lives; prices quickly rose and the unemployment rate greatly increased. People’s grievances boiled over and caused a crisis in governance. This thesis analyzes the measures taken by the Hong Kong Government to deal with this water shortage crisis, drawing on materials from the British National Archives, Legislative Council documents, and local newspapers. In addition to implementing a series of emergency water supply measures, the Hong Kong Government also took the initiative to propose that the Chinese Government supply Dongjiang river water to ensure a more stable water supply for Hong Kong. In addition, residents participated in the government’s water-saving campaigns, especially under the vigorous promotion and coordination of local organizations such as the Kaifong Welfare Association. This participation played a crucial role in enabling the Hong Kong Government to overcome the water shortage crisis. In the mid-to-late 1960s, the Hong Kong Government was under pressure to institute desalination. However, the Director of Public Works, Alec Michael John Wright, and the Financial Secretary, John James Cowperthwaite, had concerns about the development of desalination because of its low cost-effectiveness and the government’s strict control over public expenditures. As a result, seawater desalination was not implemented in Hong Kong in the 1960s.