Hong Kong is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a severe shortage of fresh water and frequent water shortages.

In the early 1960s, due to a long drought and no rain, reservoirs dried up, a serious water supply crisis occurred in Hong Kong, and the Government House had to implement measures to restrict water supply.

In 1963, when the water shortage was at its worst, the Government Government stipulated that water supply should be provided every four days for four hours each time. Finding and fetching water became the top priority for Xiangjiang citizens. Young children also joined in fetching water, and some even went to the rocks in the ravine.

Dig wells in the cracks to collect water.

Affected by water shortages, Xiangjiang's economic and social development suffered severely. In the early 1960s, Xiangjiang suffered a once-in-a-century drought and serious water shortages.

In order to alleviate the water shortage, the Governor-General obtained the consent of Guangdong Province and rented a number of oil tankers to pump fresh water to the Pearl River Estuary.

In April 1960, with domestic consent, Guangdong Province and the Governor-General reached a preliminary agreement to supply 22.7 million cubic meters of water to the Xiangjiang River from the Pengcheng Reservoir every year. During the drought in 1963, an additional 3.17 million cubic meters was added, and Hong Kong was allowed to send water to the Xiangjiang River.

The boat goes to the Pearl River Estuary to draw fresh water, and 20,000 cubic meters of tap water are supplied free of charge every day.

However, fetching water by ship and transporting water by truck can only solve urgent needs and are by no means a long-term solution.

How can we fundamentally solve the water shortage problem in Xiangjiang?

The extreme water shortage situation of Hong Kong compatriots has aroused great concern in the country.

The instructions are to ensure that the Hong Kong compatriots tide over the difficulties at all costs, because more than 95% of the Hong Kong compatriots are their own compatriots.

In December 1963, Mr. Zhou personally deployed the construction of the Dongshen Water Supply Project to divert water from the Dongjiang River to supply the Xiangjiang River.

Lin Xiuzhi, Lin Dezhong, even Mrs. MacLehose and secretary Mai Wen didn't know what they were talking about in the study.

When Yang Ming left in a wheelchair, Governor Maliho and his wife personally saw Yang Ming out.

significance?

Control two types of tap water separately.

Even in Yang Ming's view, if it were not for domestic support, Xiangjiang citizens would not be able to buy tap water even if they have money.

"Mr. MacLehose, I know very well that I have never wanted to make money through the water company."

Most of this fresh water is purchased domestically, transported to Xiangjiang through domestic pipelines, and then transported to households through Xiangjiang’s tap water pipelines.

Although the tap water in Xiangjiang is imported from the Dongjiang River in China.

On the contrary, the Kadoorie family's China Electric Power Co., Ltd. controls the electricity consumption in Kowloon and the New Territories, and the Heung Kong Electric Group controls the electricity consumption in Hong Kong Island.

In addition to these tap water and fresh water.

"good."

Tang Yun, who was far away in Yanjing, came into play when she arrived. She could first meet with the old gentleman to discuss the matter on behalf of Yang Ming.

The Water Supplies Department of the Government House is the major shareholder of Xiangjiang Water Supply, so if Governor MacLehose agrees, it is impossible for the management of the Water Supplies Department to oppose the Governor.

With the rapid economic and social development of Xiangjiang, the population continues to increase, and the demand for water supply is also increasing.

before this.

For this reason, the state allocated a special fund of 38 million yuan at that time, which was close to one thousandth of the national fiscal revenue that year.

"Mr. Yang, regarding your illegal immigration and the holding of Xiangjiang Water Company, I fully support you."

Now Maliho supports Mr. Yang because it is impossible for him to object. After Mr. Yang's explanation, he has no reason to object.

Multiple national departments have taken active actions to arrange and implement issues such as project establishment, approval, and material and equipment support one by one.

Lacking mechanical equipment, they carried spades and baskets on their shoulders, using manpower to cut mountains and ridges, build embankments and dams; lacking calculation and drawing equipment, they relied on triangular boards and plotters to calculate bit by bit; in order to meet the construction deadline, they

I often get up at dawn, have a simple breakfast and then go to work. Sometimes I don't sleep much for days and nights.

On the contrary, as long as he is still in the position of Governor, he must get Mr. Yang's strong support.

Plover Cove is surrounded by mountains on three sides. As long as a dam is built on one side and the sea water in the dam is drained, it can become a large water storage reservoir.

Basically, the old gentleman will not object.

Saltwater resources are available everywhere in Xiangjiang near the seaside, and the price is lower.

How the Government Water Supplies Department controls it is actually through water prices.

Facing difficulties one after another, the builders forged ahead and built 6 barrages, 8-level pumping stations, and 17 large gates in just one year, raising the water level of the Dongjiang River from 2 meters above sea level to 46 meters.

Created a classic project.

In 1970, the Water Supplies Department of the Government-General began the dam heightening project of Plover Cove Reservoir. After completion in 1973, the water storage capacity increased to 230 million cubic meters.

Faced with the arduous task, the builders issued the heroic slogan "We must bow our heads to the mountains and make the rivers flow backwards."

It is impossible for Heung Kong Water Company to make profits like China Electric Power and Heung Kong Electric Group.

For example, in the 1960s, the Heung Kong Water Supplies Department invested heavily in Plover Cove Harbor.

There is also part of the tap water that the Water Supplies Department spent to dig reservoirs in the Hong Kong River, or even to store tap water in reservoirs.

According to the design plan, water from the Dongjiang River will be diverted from Qiaotou Town, Guancheng, into the Pengcheng Reservoir through the Shima River Channel, and then sent to the Xiangjiang River through pipelines.

Its water storage capacity reaches 170 million cubic meters.

Yang Ming and Mai Lihao came out of the study.

At the beginning of the project construction, there was a lack of mechanical equipment and advanced technical support, and it was mainly completed by manpower.

When Yang Ming proposed to take control of Xiangjiang Water Company, Mai Lihao was still a little curious.

Therefore, the project started in 1960 and was completed in 1968, costing HK$400 million.

The Dongjiang River originates from Gan Province and flows southwest into Guangdong Province. It is the natural river closest to the Xiangjiang River and has the most abundant water.

Because the population of Xiangjiang has skyrocketed, it will inevitably need more tap water. If Mr. Yang's Imperial Group controls the Xiangjiang Water Company and wants to purchase more fresh water from the mainland, Mr. Yang will definitely support it.

"You have to know that the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company is controlled through the Water Supplies Department. It is good for the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company to maintain a balance every year. Sometimes, it even needs financial subsidies. In this case, what is the point of holding such a company?

?”

Maliho nodded.

Both companies are listed companies and have high market values.

In order to solve the labor problem, more than 5,000 educated youths were selected from Yangcheng, and more than 5,000 commune members were summoned from Wancheng, Huicheng, Bao'an and other places to participate in the construction. During the peak period, more than 20,000 manpower was invested.

When Mr. Yang was delivered to the Rolls-Royce, Governor Maliho went back.

Now the two sides have finished talking and there are no problems.

On March 1, 1965, the Dongjiang water, filled with the deep friendship of the motherland, rushed over the mountains and ridges along the 83-kilometer newly built Dongshen Water Supply Project, singing joyfully all the way, and rushed into Hong Kong, ending the tragic history of severe water shortage in Hong Kong.

This includes talking to the Water Supplies Department, the major shareholder of the Xiangjiang Water Company, and sending people to talk to mainland water supply companies.

Because tap water is a public welfare undertaking, Xiangjiang Water Company does not rely on water companies to make money. It only needs to ensure sufficient fresh water resources to meet the domestic and industrial water needs of Xiangjiang citizens.

Yang Ming didn't say anything, but Mailihao also guessed something.

However, it is the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company that purchases tap water from China.

Because the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company exists only to ensure the use of Xiangjiang citizens and the company's factories and cannot make a profit.

The main dam of Plover Cove Freshwater Lake is about 2.1 kilometers long, and there are two auxiliary dams 200 meters long, which are made of sand and gravel stacked in layers.

The tap water that Xiangjiang citizens drink and the tap water used in factories and industries are purchased with money. However, in Yang Ming's view, if it were not for the strong support from the country, how could Xiangjiang citizens have successfully drank that tap water.

There is also the issue of holding shares of Xiangjiang Water Company.

"Thank you Mr. Governor for your support."

On February 20, 1964, the construction of the Dongshen Water Supply Project officially started.

It means that the two parties have reached cooperation in this secret meeting.

Diverting water from the Dongjiang River into Hong Kong is not an easy task.

Under such circumstances, the Water Supplies Department of the Government House of Xiangjiang has always been the major shareholder of Xiangjiang Tap Water, and it has never been listed on the market.

The project has to climb 6 mountains along the way. The biggest difficulty is to gradually increase the water level to realize the "North-South Water Diversion".

For this reason, the Dongshen Water Supply Project was expanded three times in 1974, 1981, and 1990.

Freshwater resources are rare and more expensive.

One is fresh water from tap water.

The largest shareholder of the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company is the Water Supplies Department of the Xiangjiang Governor's Palace.

Of course it was because Yang Ming didn't want others to choke him.

So next time if there is any problem in Xiangjiang, Mr. Yang will definitely not come to him to discuss it again, but will solve it through his own strength.

Because it's not lunch time yet.

However, he still reminded: "Mr. Yang, even if you control the Xiangjiang Water Company, the price of tap water can only be maintained at a level acceptable to the citizens of Xiangjiang."

Next, Yang Ming only needs to send someone to negotiate between the two parties.

This means that Yang Ming's plan has been mostly successful.

"Mr. Yang, do you really want to control the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company?" MacLehose asked curiously.

The salt water in Hong Kong's tap water comes directly from the sea. Because there are too few fresh water resources in Hong Kong, in the early days, the Governor's Office in Hong Kong strictly controlled the amount of fresh water used by each household.
To be continued...