22 JULY 1989, Page 23

LETTERS

Hong Kong water

Sir: The Hong Kong civil servant (Letters, 24 June) who congratulated you on your article concerning the rights of the British subjects might be asked why it has to be accepted that Hong Kong is so vulnerable to water supplies from the mainland being cut off?

Many years ago when there was a serious water shortage on the island it was esti- mated that two or three of our 360-ton river gunboats filling up th6ir tanks with fresh water could save the situation. I was serving in one of those gunboats, HMS Tarantula in 1929. It was only necessary to proceed a surprisingly short distance up the great estuary of the Pearl river or the West river delta to find fresh water. We used to drink the stuff, suitably chlorinated, all the time .

Of course 60 years ago is a long time and water consumption on Hong Kong island has greatly increased, but it is not impossi- ble that the odd tanker could do the job these days. At least the figures could be estimated before the matter is dismissed on the theme of 'turning off the tap'.

Taking one ton to equal a thousand litres of fresh water and allowing ten litres per head per day, fifty thousand tons daily would meet the minimum needs of five million people. A couple of 25,000 ton tankers could do the job and top up the reservoirs. Once the matter of water is settled, the question of delaying surrender- ing Hong Kong island can be re-examined by your correspondent, his colleagues and the Governor himself.

C. D. Howard-Johnston

45 Rue Emile Wilier, 75116 Paris