Chapter 231 Hong Kong Water Company!

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, and there was a serious water supply crisis in Hong Kong. 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 get 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 severe 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 the immediate problem 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 Xiangjiang.

To this end, 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.

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.

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

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.

In order to solve the problem of mechanical equipment, the state organized nearly a hundred factories in 16 provinces across the country to rush to produce mechanical and electrical equipment for water supply projects. Railway, highway, water transportation, civil aviation and other departments prioritized transportation and installation, and tried their best to ensure the supply of equipment required for the project.

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.

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

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

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

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".

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.

Faced with the arduous task, the builders issued the heroic slogan of "lowering the mountains and turning the rivers back."

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

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.

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

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

Xiangjiang was developed as a small fishing village. Because it is surrounded by the sea on three sides, it does not have much fresh water resources at all.

In the early days, freshwater resources severely limited the lives and economic development of Xiangjiang citizens.

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

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.

before this.

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

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

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

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 enough fresh water resources to meet the domestic and industrial water needs of Xiangjiang citizens.

The Water Supplies Department below the Government House.

Control two types of tap water separately.

One is fresh tap water.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Its water storage capacity reaches 170 million cubic meters.

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

In addition to these fresh tap water.

There is also tap water with salt water.

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.

For example, the citizens of Xiangjiang usually use seawater to flush their toilets, and the swimming pools in the homes of wealthy people also use real seawater.

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

Freshwater resources are rare and more expensive.

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

This also needs to take into account pipeline maintenance, labor expenses, etc. As a public welfare undertaking, the nature of Xiangjiang's tap water and Xiangjiang's two electricity companies are somewhat different.

Under this circumstance, 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.

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.

Both companies are listed companies and their market values ​​are both high.

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

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

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

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

"good."

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

significance?

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

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

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."

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

Mailihao nodded.

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

Including issues regarding the protection of interests and safety of illegal immigrants.

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

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

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

If I don't even agree to Mr. Yang's questions.

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.

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

"Thank you Mr. Governor for your support."

"Mr. Yang, I also need your support."

Both sides smiled at each other.

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

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

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.

Tang Yun, who is far away in Yanjing, will play her role when she arrives. She can first meet with the old gentleman to discuss the matter on behalf of Yang Ming.

Basically, the old gentleman would not object.

Because the population of Xiangjiang is soaring, 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.

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

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

Yang Ming and Mai Lihao came out of the study.

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

Because it's not lunch time yet.

Yang Ming did not stay any longer.

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

Governor Maliho went back only when he saw Mr. Yang delivering it to the Rolls-Royce.

Regarding the Imperial Group's intention to take control of the Xiangjiang Water Company, MacLehose still had to react to London.

However, MacLehose felt that the Xiangjiang Water Supply Company had always been a burden to the Water Supplies Department and Xiangjiang's finances. Now that this burden could finally be handed over to the Imperial Group, it was a great good thing for the Government-General and the Water Supplies Department. He did not Reasons to object.

Updated Chapter 4!

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