**************************************************

The completion of Sunny Bay Fresh Water Service Reservoir at Yam O Tuk, Lantau, marks the successful achievement of one major infrastructure projects for Penny's Bay Development and provides assurance of permanent fresh water supply to the Hong Kong Disneyland (HKD).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new waterworks, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works), Mr Y. C. Lo, said today (May 12) that the government had also planned to feed HKD with the third type of water supply.

"Apart from the provision of potable water and flushing water, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) will provide raw water for irrigation purpose and for topping up the artificial lake in the Water Recreation Centre adjacent to HKD," Mr Lo said.

While ensuring timely completion of the service reservoir, WSD has spent much effort to bring the service reservoir and the associated works such as the access road and the water mains to blend harmoniously with the environment.

The works, as part of the infrastructural project for Penny's Bay Development Package I, started in August 2001 and was substantially completed in November 2003 at a cost of about $120 million.

Extensive greening and landscaping work including tree planting and turfing have been carried out for all the areas or slopes formed during the construction.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr William Ko Chan-gock, said the service reservoir was planned and designed in-house by WSD.

"This new service reservoir serves to provide the balancing storage and the breakdown storage including the fire-fighting reserve to its supply zone," Mr Ko said.

The works included the construction of a service reservoir with a water storage capacity of 13,000 cubic metres and the laying of 1,500m of water mains of sizes ranging from 600mm to 800mm in diameter, said Mr Ko, adding that reservoir could be extended to an ultimate capacity of 30,000 cubic metres to meet the future growth in demand.

Other officiating guests include the Chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council, Dr the Hon. Raymond Ho Chung-tai; Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Council, Mr Chau How-chen; and Ma Wan Rural Committee Chairman, Mr Chow Kam-chuen.

Ends/Wednesday, May 12, 2004

NNNN