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The Government today (June 6) announced the designation of another 11 areas in the territory for inclusion in a pilot scheme under which owners of non-domestic developments are allowed to use fresh water for evaporative cooling in air-conditioning systems.

The 11 areas are respectively located in North Point, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Bay, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Hung Hom Districts.

The pilot scheme is an initiative by an inter-departmental working group comprising the Works Bureau and the Environment and Food Bureau and eight departments, namely the Buildings Department, Drainage Services Department Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Environmental Protection Department, Department of Health, Lands Department, Planning Department and Water Supplies Department.

The aims of this pilot scheme are :

* to promote energy efficient water-cooled air conditioning systems,

* to assess the impacts to the infrastructures,

* to assess the health and environmental effects, and

* to provide information for a territorial study for the

implementation of water-cooled air conditioning systems in Hong Kong.

Launched in June last year, six areas in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Pok Fu Lam, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Yuen Long Industrial Estate and Hung Hom were designated for the implementation of the two-year pilot scheme.

According to the scheme, all non-domestic developments in the designated areas, existing or new, may apply to the Water Supplies Department for the approval of water supplies, and send a copy of the application to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department for vetting of the design and registration of the cooling towers.

Applicants must also submit to the Buildings Department plans on the construction of the supporting framework for approval.

The location plans of designated areas under the scheme can be viewed at EMSD website : http://www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/english/energy/news/index.html.

Detailed application procedures and the operation and maintenance requirements are available from the Energy Efficiency Office of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on 11/F, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. For enquiries, please call 2881 1562.

End/Wednesday, June 6, 2001

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