The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung, visited the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW) today (July 22) to learn more about the work of the Drainage Services Department (DSD) and to take the opportunity to meet its staff.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Cheung first met with the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong, and the directorate staff. The DSD is devoted to providing world-class wastewater and stormwater drainage services enabling the sustainable development of Hong Kong. The SCISTW is the world's largest chemically enhanced primary treatment plant with a treatment capacity of 2.45 million cubic metres per day. It also forms an important part of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS).

     Later, Mr Cheung toured the rooftop garden of the Main Pumping Station to learn about the facilities of the SCISTW including double-tray sedimentation tanks, flocculation tanks, sludge cake silos and the marine vessel for sludge transportation, Clean Harbour 1, built under the HATS Stage 2A.

     Mr Cheung also visited the Main Control Room to understand how the staff members monitor various stages of sewage treatment processes round the clock. He was also briefed on the SCISTW's role in the HATS. Launched in the late 1980s, the HATS is being implemented in stages to provide treatment for the sewage collected from the urban areas on both sides of Victoria Harbour so as to improve the water quality.

     In touring the main pump motor and de-odourising facilities, Mr Cheung noted that the SCISTW has the world's most powerful sewage pumping system among the same type of treatment plants. Other than sewage treatment, odour treatment facilities have been enhanced to minimise nuisance to the surroundings.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Cheung met staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on relevant departmental issues. He praised colleagues' efforts and encouraged them to continue to improve drainage services in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Ends/Friday, July 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:30

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