Historical Context and British Colonial Expansion

• British acquired Hong Kong territories in stages:
  • Hong Kong Island: 1842 (First Opium War)
  • Kowloon Peninsula: 1860 (Second Opium War)
  • New Territories: 1898 (99-year lease, expires 1997)
• Hong Kong geography challenges:
  • Annual rainfall: 2,225 millimeters (seasonal - spring/summer)
  • Solid granite foundation prevents underground water storage
  • Water flows directly to sea, no natural reservoirs

Post-1949 Power Dynamics

• October 1949: People's Republic of China established
• Communist army marched to Hong Kong border same month
• British post-WWII weakness prevented resistance
• Hong Kong's existence depended solely on CPC decision not to invade
• Tacit agreement: British don't harm Chinese interests, China doesn't invade
• Chinese strategic reasons for preserving Hong Kong:
  • Access to goods during Korean War despite embargo
  • Window to Western world after Sino-Soviet split
  • Cut off from Soviet technology and financial aid

Water Crisis and Population Explosion

• Massive refugee influx from Chinese Civil War and famine
• Hundreds of thousands crossed border
• Existing reservoir infrastructure inadequate
• End of 1950s: water supply vulnerable to disruption
• Spring 1959: drought hit colony's ability to meet population needs

1960 Water Supply Agreement

• Pro-Chinese circle suggested Guangdong government could supply water
• Guangdong building reservoir anyway, could help Hong Kong
• Guangdong government ordered into negotiations by Beijing
• January 1960: official offer extended with no duress/pressure
• Governor Sir Robert Black (experienced, previously Singapore governor):
  • Aware of risks, didn't trust Communists
  • Needed to provide for people, political stability paramount
  • Consulted with Britain, decided to accept deal
  • Simultaneously planned independent water supplies
• Deal structure to minimize propaganda impact:
  • Refused free water, insisted on reasonable price
  • Low-level officials negotiated, not main government
  • Publicized through press releases to co-opt propaganda

1962-1967 Drought Crisis and Political Unrest

• 1962: worst drought in Hong Kong history
• Two years: less than half usual rainfall
• Regional drought affected all South China
• China couldn't provide additional water to Hong Kong
• Water restrictions imposed until May 1964
• 1967: restrictions became politically damaging
• Cultural Revolution spillover caused riots
• Leftists called water restrictions "dirty political scheme"
• Government suppressed nearly 200 riots, arrested 5,000 people
• Strain between Hong Kong and mainland over "water card"

British Water Independence Efforts

• Plover Cove Reservoir completed 1968 (9 years after deal):
  • Cost: 541 million Hong Kong dollars
  • Nearly 1/4 of colony's total spending 1968-69
  • Held 3x water of all previous reservoirs combined
  • Could supply water into early 1970s without China
• Additional reservoirs built:
  • High Island Reservoir (cost ~30% annual budget)
  • Lok On Pai desalination plant
• Explored nuclear-powered desalination (not developed)
• Created seawater toilet flushing system to conserve fresh water
• By 1979: China supplied only 27% of Hong Kong's water
• Plover Cove alone could provide daily supply without Chinese help

Financial and Geographic Constraints

• Immense costs of water independence:
  • Plover Cove: 541 million HKD (1/4 of colonial budget)
  • High Island: 30% of annual budget
  • Operational costs of reservoirs and desalination
  • Budget strain on education, law/order, medicine, public housing
• Physical engineering challenges:
  • Plover Cove required damming ocean, filling with rainwater
  • Chinese pipeline much cheaper alternative
• 1979: China's opening policy improved border relations
• Critics questioned expensive water works when cheap Chinese water available
• Water Works Department: 28 million HKD deficit 1981-82 due to desalination fuel costs

Critical Geographic Vulnerability

• 99% of local water capacity located in New Territories
• New Territories lease expires 1997, not renewable
• Once reclaimed by China, water supply control absolute
• Political border (not geographical barrier like mountains/ocean)
• No protection from potential occupation
• Geography and urbanization prevented land for water storage or food production

Handover Negotiations and Dependency Shift

• 1979: first handover negotiations began
• Colonial government had Chinese water dependence but built countermeasures
• Once New Territories reclamation became clear, rest of Hong Kong had to go
• Joint Declaration signed 1984
• No need to build independent water supplies post-declaration
• Water dependency accelerated:
  • 1985: China supplied >50% of Hong Kong water
  • 1991: 80% Chinese supply
  • Present: Dong Jiang dominates Hong Kong water supply

Contemporary Situation

• China uses water/food control as leverage against Hong Kong independence
• Irony: Shenzhen and Guangdong now need own water supplies
• Hong Kong no longer privileged for cheap Dong Jiang water
• Must again invest in building independent water supplies
• Geographic reality: Hong Kong couldn't be independent due to lack of natural barriers
• China needed British Hong Kong for 150 years to negotiate with outside world
• After China's opening, that need ended, Hong Kong independence became impossible