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The Government is to spend some $8 billion on construction of water treatment and supply facilities over the next five years in its commitment to providing adequate and quality water supply to meet the demands of Hong Kong's rapid developments.

This was disclosed by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, when he officiated at the opening ceremony for the Ngau Tam Mei Water Treatment Works today (December 2).

The treatments works, one of the most challenging projects that the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has undetaken in recent years, was built to meet the increasing water demand in the North West New Territories region brought about by the rapid industrial and housing developments in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai New Towns.

Mr Tsang noted that the North West New Territories, with a large holding of undeveloped areas, is a suitable location for siting new towns to accommodate the fast growing population of the next generation of the territory which is expected to grow by some 18 per cent to more than 8 million within the next 15 years.

He added that a new treatment works now under construction at Tai Po to serve the North East New Territories and urban areas is among the many major waterworks projects initiated by the Government to meet the continuing need to provide water to keep pace with developments in Hong Kong.

Plans are also in hand to expand Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works to supply future developments on Lantau Island.

Noting that water supply in Hong Kong has a history almost as long as Hong Kong itself, the Financial Secretary paid tribute to the WSD by noting that from its humble beginnings in the early 1850's, when streams were the only source of supply, the Department and its predecessor had been forward-looking and effective in planning ahead for the future.

He said innovative projects undertaken by the department like the Plover Cove and High Island reservoirs still remained unrivalled in terms of their size.

"And next year we will reach another milestone - 150 years of an established water supply in Hong Kong," he added.

According to the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Hugh Phillipson, the design concepts of state-of-the-art Ngau Tam Mei Treatment Works reflected the department's commitment to make the best use of available resources and technology to improve its services to the public while at the same time to remain conscious of the need to protect the environment.

The treatment works has been specifically designed to take advantage of the most advanced technologies including the first use in Hong Kong of biological filters enhanced by ozonation in the treatment process to produce water that meets or exceeds the World Health Organisation Standards on water quality.

Its design also ensures that the plant has flexible operation to cope with changing raw water quality conditions.

The sedimentation tanks are designed as triple-deck structures to reduce land use and provide space for future expansion.

To conserve water, all wash-water used for cleaning the filters is itself re-cycled. Sludge is treated on-site so that the only waste product is a dry cake-like substance that is harmless to the environment.

Works on the treatment works commenced in 1997 and were completed this October.

It has an initial output capacity of 230 million litres per day with provision for further expansion to 450 million litres per day.

The treatment works primarily supplies water to Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai New Towns, but it is also strategically linked to other treatment works in Tuen Mun and Au Tau to ensure supply in the unlikely event of emergency situations.

Also officiating at today's opening ceremony was the Secretary for Works, Mr Lee Shing-see.

End/Saturday, December 2, 2000

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