The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The delegation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Development began the duty visit to the Dongjiang River Basin in Guangdong Province today (April 14) to better understand the operation of the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply System as well as the measures taken by the Guangdong Provincial authorities in safeguarding the quality of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong.

     The delegation departed from the LegCo Complex for Heyuan, Guangdong Province in the early morning. Upon arrival at Heyuan at noon, with the company of the Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Hon Chi-Keung and the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Enoch Lam, Members took a boat trip in the Xinfengjiang Reservoir. The Reservoir, located at the middle-upper stream of Dongjiang River Basin, is the largest reservoir regulating the water flowing into Dongjiang. During the boat trip, Members received a briefing on the operation of the Xinfengjiang Reservoir by an official of the Water Resources Bureau of Heyuan Municipality. Members were not only able to further learn of the present condition of the water storage of the Reservoir, but also to observe the water quality from a close distance.

     Members then departed for Huizhou and visited the Green Way, which is built along the river bank of Dongjiang, in Huizhou en route. Members observed the quality of the water at the right-hand side of the river bank.

     Right after stopping by the Green Way, Members paid a visit to the Dongjiang River Basin Water Quantity and Quality Monitoring and Control Centre (the Monitoring and Control Centre). At a seminar attended by Members and representatives of the Department of Water Resources of Guangdong Province, the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province as well as the Bureau of Dongjiang River Basin Administration, they exchanged views on issues of mutual concern relating to the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong. Members learnt that the Monitoring and Control Centre was managed by the Bureau and the Bureau had commenced the operation of the Dongjiang Water Quantity and Quality Real-time Monitoring and Control System in 2015, providing a real-time monitoring system for the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply System that enhanced the protection of water resources in the Dongjiang River Basin.

     The delegation will visit the Taiyuan Pumping Station in Dongguan, the Bio-nitrification Plant at Shenzhen Reservoir and the Shenzhen Reservoir tomorrow (April 15) before returning to Hong Kong in the evening.

     The 18-strong LegCo delegation is led by the delegation leader Mr Kenneth Lau, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the LegCo Panel on Development.  Panel members Dr Helena Wong and Dr Lo Wai-kwok are the deputy delegation leaders.

Ends/Friday, April 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 22:14

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