In this talk, Tymon Mellor discusses the pivotal role of water in the development of the Kowloon Peninsula.  He recounts the early history of Kowloon and its water supply, and the politics and the technical problems to be overcome.  The presentation uses archive maps, images and contemporary documents to show how the initial Kowloon water supply was planned and constructed covering the period of 1860 to 1910. 
 
This includes the historical and social context of Hong Kong around the early 1900s when the Shek Kip Mei reservoir was built.  He touches on the cultural significance and the architectural pertinence of this now-famous reservoir, reminiscent of great Roman reservoirs from two millennia before.
 
Tymon Mellor was educated at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.  He is a well-known Civil and Structural Engineer in Hong Kong, with over 30 years’ experience of working on major infrastructure and railway projects.  His experience covers tunnel design and construction, construction management, and engineering issues related to implementing modern railway systems.   He is presently a Director of Rollem Asia.  Tymon is an expert on Hong Kong’s urban development, particularly of its airports and water works, since the territory’s foundation in the 19^th Century.