6.4 Water Rationing

Severe droughts in 1963 and 1967 reduced the territory's water supply to a perilous situation.

In 1963, the domestic water supply was rationed to four hours every four days. When a similar water crisis struck Hong Kong again in 1967, the Government negotiated with China for the provision of additional water supplies and built the Lok On Pai desalter to desalinate seawater.

Three reservoirs at Shek Pik, Plover Cove and High Island were built and a publicity campaign drove home the necessity to "save water".

Credit : History Museum of HK.