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Since the discovery of excess lead in drinking water at some public rental housing (PRH) estates, the Government and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) have taken a series of measures to minimise the inconvenience in gaining access to safe drinking water for the tenants of the 11 affected PRH estates, including the supply of bottled water, standpipes, and requesting the contractors concerned to connect pipes from the roof-top tank to each floor of the block, as well as to install filters/ replace filter cores within two years for affected domestic households free of charge.
As at December 3, the Housing Department (HD) had distributed a total of around 8.5 million bottles of bottled water, involving a total cost of around $51 million. As mentioned from time to time, the HD will keep in view the installation progress of the water filters and the temporary water points at the various estates, and cease distribution of bottled water after the temporary water points in the last estate are put into use, allowing tenants a period of adjustment.
A HD spokesman today (December 10) said, "Currently, filter installation has been completed, and the temporary water points in the last estate were put into use yesterday in Un Chau Estate Phase 2 and 4. As tenants in the various estates are now able to gain access to safe drinking water through water filters and the temporary water points, we have decided to cease distribution of bottled water by the end of this year, after allowing tenants a period of adjustment. In determining the exact date for ceasing the distribution of bottled water, we will take into account factors such as the festive season and holidays."
The HA will later announce the exact date for ceasing the distribution of bottled water at the 11 affected estates.
Ends/Thursday, December 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:00
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