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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Development continued the duty visit in Singapore today (March 22) to study the country's water supply and water quality management initiatives.
In the morning, members of the delegation visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, a flagship project under the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters Programme (ABC Waters Programme) that deconcretised and naturalised a straight concrete drainage canal into a 3-kilometre meandering river. Briefed by the Deputy Director of Sustainability Office of the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Ms Cheng Geok Ling, delegation members learnt that the ABC Waters Programme had been launched by PUB in 2006 to transform concrete waterways into ecologically sustainable waterscapes in the urban area. By making reference to the park, Ms Cheng also explained the strategic initiatives that had been implemented to improve the country's water quality at source by detaining run-off and minimising pollution in reservoirs and waterways, while beautifying the urban landscape and creating new community spaces for the public.
The delegation then met with members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Water Resources of the Parliament of Singapore. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, who is also the Chairperson of the Committee, and Mr Liang Eng Hwa shared their views with delegation members on the Singapore government's policy initiatives for building a network of diversified supply of water.
The delegation visited Bedok NEWater Factory in the afternoon to gain a better understanding of the production of high-purity reclaimed water, known as NEWater, as an alternative water source in Singapore since 2003. NEWater is mainly used for industrial and air-conditioning cooling purposes at wafer fabrication plants, industrial estates and commercial buildings. Delegation members toured the NEWater Visitor Centre and received a briefing on the treatment processes by the Senior Principal Engineer of Water Supply (Plants) Department of PUB, Mr Ong Key Wee. Delegation members learnt that NEWater was produced from treated used water by using advanced membrane and ultraviolet technologies to make the water clean and safe.
The delegation will meet with representatives of PUB's Water Quality Office and Water Supply (Network) Department tomorrow (March 23) before they return to Hong Kong in the evening.
Ends/Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:59
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