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"Moonlight, shining on Hong Kong, Shantang has no water and no grain."
This is a song that circulated in the streets and alleys in 1963, during the great drought in Hong Kong. At that time, the people of Hong Kong were waiting, longing for the day when the water shortage would end and they would be able to drink fresh water freely.
At the same time, on the desk of the Juxiang Book House in Zhongnanhai, distress letters from all walks of life kept flying, including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Kowloon Federation of Trade Unions and so on. The letters were all about asking for the central government's assistance in helping Hong Kong solve its water shortage. The suffering of many people attracted Mao's attention, and his heart was full of grief.
On the mainland, Mao Zedong decided to take action to bring water from the mainland to the relief of Hong Kong. However, when he proposed this decision, he met with a lot of opposition. Many cadres believed that under the national conditions at that time, it was unrealistic to build canals and divert water, and the state treasury could not afford it. Mao's decision sparked heated debate at the meeting, but in the end he insisted on a plan to build canals and divert water.
Hong Kong's water shortage at that time stemmed from the geographical situation. Although Hong Kong is surrounded by seawater, water is scarce due to the lack of freshwater rivers and lakes, and the hard rock formations that cannot store water. In particular, the growing population has led to an even more prominent problem of water supply. The Hong Kong government has tried various approaches, including desalination, but to little effect. Since the 1950s, the idea of diverting water from the mainland has been put forward in the hope of solving Hong Kong's water supply problem. However, the British government feared that it would weaken their control in Hong Kong, leading to this idea not materializing.
It was not until 1960 that the newly appointed Governor began negotiations to put the plan to divert water from the Dongjiang River into practice. In November 1960, representatives of China and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to import 5 billion gallons of fresh water per year from the Shenzhen reservoir at the cost of the British government. Although this plan means that the mainland will provide water resources to Hong Kong, it also makes the mainland government sacrifice its own development to a certain extent.
However, just as the water supply problem was beginning to appear, the drought of late 1962 and 1963 plunged Hong Kong into water shortages again. The nine-month drought has caused Hong Kong's surface water to gradually evaporate, dry up rivers and crack fields. Residents had to leave their homes in order to drink water, social order was chaotic and sanitation deteriorated. All this made the British government in Hong Kong have to turn to the mainland again. The central government decided to build an aqueduct in Guangdong to divert water from the Dongjiang River to Hong Kong.
However, the decision also faced internal opposition. Some people worry that the mainland itself is facing water shortages and is unwilling to sacrifice resources for Hong Kong. However, Mao Zedong firmly supported the plan to build canals and divert water, which he saw as a long-term strategic move that, while it may be difficult now, would be a choice that would do more good than harm to both Hong Kong and the mainland.
And so, the project began. In December 1963, the Dongshen Water Supply Project was officially started. Whether it is water conservancy experts or ordinary laborers, everyone has put in great efforts to complete this difficult task. The difficulties and challenges in the project were far beyond imagination, but the determination and perseverance of the people led to the completion of the project in February of the following year. The fact that the aqueduct was built became a bargaining chip in Sino-British negotiations and demonstrated China's firm determination.
With the passage of time, Hong Kong has been able to solve the water supply problem and become one of the four Asian tigers, and behind the diversion canal, the hard work of the mainland people and the love for Hong Kong compatriots are carried behind. In 1997, Hong Kong returned to China, and the clear water of the river also witnessed the deep emotional bond between the two places.
Today, the waters of the Dongjiang River continue to deliver a steady stream of fresh water to Hong Kong, and this kind of care and cooperation has become a common memory of the people of the two places. After going through difficulties and tests, Hong Kong and the Mainland still maintain close ties and a community of destiny.
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