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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (November 10):

Question:

In March 2002, the Drainage Services Department ("DSD") advised Members of this Council that the Lam Tsuen Valley Sewerage Project was expected to be completed in 2008. However, the DSD indicated early this year that in order to make effective use of the limited resources, the Government needed to adhere to the principle of giving priority to more urgent projects, and hence it was necessary to defer the completion of the above project to 2011. Regarding village sewerage works, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of such works deferred in the past five years and the reasons for their deferment;

(b) whether, before such works are completed, other measures are in place to address the problem of sewage discharge in rural areas, so as to prevent the deterioration of the mosquito problem; and

(c) whether it has assessed the harm caused by the deferment of such works to the development of rural land and the overall economy of Hong Kong; if it has, of the assessment results?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Government has spent $20 billion on sewerage projects since 1991 and is planning to spend more than $5 billion in the coming five years on top of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme. As a result of these sewerage projects, around 95% of our population are now served by the public sewerage system and 70% of sewage collected receives chemical or above treatment. During the planning stages of these sewerage works, we would prioritise such works according to the actual needs, such as imminence of safety and environmental problems, population projections, future town planning and cost-effectiveness, etc. In fact, the total expenditure over the past five years on rural sewerage projects, including both completed and under-construction, amounted to $1.2 billion. This did not include drainage and flood prevention projects or sewage treatment and disposal facilities for handling increased sewage flows as a result of the extension of the sewerage network.

In planning and implementing a new sewerage project, we need to constantly review the scope, technical feasibility and works schedule of the project having regard to latest circumstances, and to consult the District Council(s), Rural Committee(s) and local residents at the appropriate time. The project referred to by the Hon CHEUNG Hok-ming has not been included in Category A under Public Works Programme and is still in the planning stage. Hence, there is no question of deferment. Since environmental projects cover a wide range of areas, including flood prevention, sewerage and waste management, the Government has to evaluate and assess priorities annually. Having regard to the prevailing financial position and each project's impact on Hong Kong's development and economy, such works projects and their implementation time tables have to be reviewed regularly and adjusted according to community need.

(b) There are 955 villages in the rural New Territories. Sewerage connection works for 80 villages have completed whilst that for 30 villages are under construction. Of the remaining 845 villages, we have prepared initial sewerage plans for 535 villages. Domestic sewage from the unsewered villages in the New Territories should first be treated by private sewage treatment facilities such as septic tanks and soakaway systems before disposal. Under normal circumstances, properly operated and maintained private sewage treatment facilities can adequately protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) would deploy Environmental Protection Inspectors to conduct sewage inspections and take immediate action, including prosecution, when a complaint about pollution is received in order to address the problem. For example, the EPD has conducted 1 200 inspections, investigated 118 complaints and secured 4 successful prosecutions on water pollution related issues in the North District in 2003. During January to September 2004, the EPD has conducted 700 inspections in that district, investigated 134 complaints and secured 5 successful prosecutions on water pollution related issues.

To protect the public from diseases such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, the HKSAR Government has set up an inter-departmental working group headed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to implement effective measures to eliminate mosquitoes. Large-scale anti-mosquito campaigns were also launched in the past few years. The Home Affairs Department has also through the district anti-mosquito task forces in all 18 districts to co-ordinate efforts of various Government departments and units in their respective areas of work and to ask the relevant departments to conduct anti-mosquito and grass cutting operations in areas not managed by a designated department. In 2004, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has authorised a total of 240 grass cutting projects of which 22 grass cutting projects are conducted in Tai Po District. Moreover, the DSD has also sprayed larvicidal oil in stagnant waters along the rivers and drainage areas to control mosquito breeding.

We have completed three rounds of Anti-mosquito Campaign in 2004. Taking the first round of Anti-mosquito Campaign as an example, 5 637 mosquito breeding sites and 119 421 potential breeding sites were cleared; 23 written warnings were issued; prosecution action was taken in 19 cases; and 15 094 posters/pamphlets were distributed.

(3) Domestic sewages of the unsewered villages in the New Territories are normally treated by septic tank and soakaway systems before discharge. Hence, in most areas, no land has been "frozen" in whatever form. However, the septic tanks and soakaway systems of some villages such as Lam Tsuen in Tai Po which are located within water gathering grounds are incapable of removing all pollutants from the sewage. To safeguard the potable water resource and to protect public health, the EPD and the Water Supplies Department have set more stringent water quality standards for the water gathering grounds. In addition, development projects in these areas are subject to tighter control in order to protect the potable water resource from any adverse effect from sewage. Formulating more stringent management measures for water gathering grounds is a common practice of international standard to ensure drinking water is safe and to safeguard public health. From both economic and health points of view, this is beneficial to the community as a whole.

Ends/Wednesday, November 10, 2004

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