Pok Fu Lam Reservoir

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Pok Fu Lam Reservoir

| image = Pok Fu Lam Reservoir 6.jpg

| caption = Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, viewed from High West

| image_bathymetry =

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|pushpin_map=Hong Kong

| location = Hong Kong

| coords = {{Coord|22.26498|114.13727|display=title,inline}}

| type = reservoir

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| volume = {{convert|260000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}

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{{chinese

|showflag=j

|pic=File:Pok Fu Lam Former Watchmen's Cottage (Structure 1).jpg

|piccap=Former Watchman's Cottage

|c={{linktext|薄|扶|林|水塘}}

|p=Bófúlín Shuǐtáng

|w=Po-fu-lin Shui-t{{wg-apos}}ang

|y=Bohk fùh làhm séui tòhng

|j=Bok6 fu4 lam4 seoi2 tong 4

}}

Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, formerly known as the Pokefulum Reservoir,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GudKAQAAIAAJ|title=The Chronicle and Directory for China, Corea, Japan, the Philippines|year=1870|pages=136}} is the first reservoir in Hong Kong. It is located in a valley in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong Island. It is near The Peak.{{clarify|reason=Second reservoir or and extension of the existing one to make the dam higher? Other sources say extensions rather than a second reservoir.|text=It is actually two reservoirs with capacity of 260,000 m³.|date=January 2024}}http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/education/fun_of_fishing_in_hong_kong/brief_introduction_of_reservoirs/pok_fu_lam_reservoir/index.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr19-20/english/subleg/brief/2020ln092_brf.pdf |title=Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53) Antiquities and Monuments (Declaration of Monuments and Historical Buildings) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Notice 2020 |website=legco.gov.hk|access-date=8 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/1929/h290905.pdf |title=Hong Kong Legislative Council|website=legco.gov.hk|access-date=8 July 2023}}

History

Before the completion of the reservoir in 1863, the people in the city got their water by nearby streams or wells. These methods however were unable to support the rapid growth of the Hong Kong population since 1841. Due to diseases caused by polluted water, The Hong Kong Government needed an urgent solution to the problem. Thus, they offered a reward of 1,000 pounds to anyone who provided a solution to disease on 14 October 1859. The colonial government also allocated a budget of £25,000 for the project. On 29 February 1860, S. B. Rawling, a clerk from Royal Engineers suggested the construction of a dam across the valley of Pokfulam to collect rainwater. The reservoir was completed in 1863.

The construction did not meet the needs of the population because of budget-cuts, which left the dam to be far from adequate. Another reservoir above the original was built to meet the needs of the growing colony in 1877.

Monument declaration

Six Historic Structures of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir were declared as monuments in 2009. These include four masonry bridges, gauge basin and the Former Watchman's Cottage which is now Pok Fu Lam Management Centre.[http://www.heritage.gov.hk/en/buildings/monuments_87.htm 6 Historic Structures of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023328/http://www.heritage.gov.hk/en/buildings/monuments_87.htm |date=4 March 2016 }}, Conserve and Revitalise HongKong Heritage

References

Category:Pok Fu Lam

Category:Reservoirs in Hong Kong

Category:Declared monuments of Hong Kong