​Following is a question by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     ​​Some members of the industry operating data centres have recently relayed to me that the industrial water supply at Tseung Kwan O InnoPark (formerly known as Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate) is insufficient, hindering the development of industries that require substantial industrial water usage. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the annual industrial water consumption over the past decade, and its percentage share of Hong Kong's total fresh water consumption;

(2) whether it has compiled statistics on the water consumption of the three InnoParks managed by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (namely Tai Po InnoPark, Yuen Long InnoPark and Tseung Kwan O InnoPark) over the past decade, and their respective percentage shares of Hong Kong's total industrial water consumption;

(3) whether the Government has made appropriate planning for the overall water supply to industrial areas and InnoParks, such as setting water supply caps for various industrial areas and InnoParks;

(4) given that the Government began implementing pilot schemes involving the use of reclaimed water in Hong Kong in 2006, and it is learnt that Singapore began using reclaimed water for industrial purposes years ago, of the current scope of industrial application of reclaimed water in Hong Kong; whether it has plans to implement schemes involving the use of reclaimed water in InnoParks; and

(5) given that Hong Kong is navigating through a period of new industrialisation, numerous data centres, microelectronics-related enterprises and artificial intelligence-related businesses are establishing their presence one after another, and that such enterprises typically require substantial industrial water supplies for operating cooling systems, whether the Government has forecast the water demand of these emerging technology enterprises and formulated planning proposals to address the anticipated sustained increase in industrial water consumption?

Reply:

President,

     ​​The Government supports the development of industries with industrial water usage on the one hand, while on the other hand contains fresh water demand growth through various measures including actively encouraging enterprises to adopt water-saving technologies and to use reclaimed water and seawater for industrial purposes, thereby providing a stable and economical water supply.

     ​​Having consulted the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, our reply to the various parts of the question is set out below:

(1) Over the past decade, the annual industrial and cooling water consumption and its percentage share of Hong Kong's total fresh water consumption are listed in the following table:
 

Year	Industrial and cooling water consumption (Million cubic metres)	Total fresh water consumption (Million cubic metres)	Percentage of industrial and cooling water consumption in total fresh water consumption (%)
2015	75	973	7.71
2016	76	987	7.70
2017	77	980	7.86
2018	80	1 013	7.90
2019	78	996	7.83
2020	73	1 027	7.11
2021	79	1 055	7.49
2022	79	1 066	7.41
2023	83	1 068	7.77
2024	83	1 060	7.83

Note: Since 2013, the Government has begun introducing seawater for cooling purpose, though it accounts for only a small portion of total industrial and cooling water consumption. The Government also plans to utilise reclaimed water for cooling use in suitable areas in the future.

(2) Over the past decade, the industrial and cooling water consumption of the three InnoParks (i.e. Tai Po InnoPark, Yuen Long InnoPark and Tseung Kwan O InnoPark), the industrial and cooling water consumption in Hong Kong, and the percentages of industrial and cooling water consumption of the three InnoParks in the industrial and cooling water consumption in Hong Kong are listed in the following table:
 

Year	Industrial and cooling water consumption (million cubic metres) [percentage in industrial and cooling water consumption in Hong Kong]			Industrial and cooling water consumption in Hong Kong (million cubic metres)
	Tai Po InnoPark	Yuen Long InnoPark	Tseung Kwan O InnoPark
2015	6.12 [8.16%]	1.26 [1.68%]	1.24 [1.65%]	75
2016	6.28 [8.26%]	1.25 [1.64%]	1.39 [1.83%]	76
2017	6.45 [8.38%]	1.38 [1.79%]	1.63 [2.12%]	77
2018	6.42 [8.03%]	1.33 [1.66%]	1.71 [2.14%]	80
2019	6.37 [8.17%]	1.36 [1.74%]	1.86 [2.38%]	78
2020	5.96 [8.16%]	1.39 [1.90%]	1.88 [2.58%]	73
2021	6.37 [8.06%]	1.54 [1.95%]	1.99 [2.52%]	79
2022	6.48 [8.20%]	1.53 [1.94%]	2.17 [2.75%]	79
2023	5.77 [6.95%]	1.49 [1.80%]	2.15 [2.59%]	83
2024	5.34 [6.43%]	1.46 [1.76%]	2.25 [2.71%]	83

(3) The planning and design of water supply facilities are primarily aimed to meet the population's demand for drinking water and water demand for industrial and commercial use (including industrial areas and InnoParks). During planning of the water supply system for individual development areas, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) will base on the water demands estimated by relevant policy bureaux to plan the required water supply system.

     ​​The Government will continuously review the relevant water demand of each district based on its latest development and planning, and assess the carrying capacity of the water supply system to ensure the provision of stable and reliable water supply to existing users and new users of future development. If necessary, the Government will consider implementing water supply system improvement projects in a timely manner to enhance the capacity of the water supply system to meet the projected overall water demand in the district with due consideration of the projected water demand and its timeline, technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, the capacity of the existing water supply system, and the priority of overall infrastructure projects.

     ​​In the past few years, the Government has noted that the current water demands in some districts have approached the upper limit of the design capacity of the existing water supply systems. In the event that an applicant applies for large amount of water usage, the Government will provide technical advice to the applicant so appropriate scheme, such as adopting seawater and reclaimed water, could be effected to meet its water demand. For example, a seawater district cooling system has been constructed at the Tseung Kwan O InnoPark to meet its increasing water demand.

(4) The Government has been actively exploring the use of reclaimed water by providing a centralised reclaimed water supply system in those areas where fresh water is being temporarily used for flushing and in new development areas located in inland areas to contain the fresh water demand growth. To further contain the growth of fresh water demand, the Government is exploring the feasibility of using reclaimed water in district cooling systems. The WSD preliminarily considers that the use of reclaimed water for evaporative district cooling systems is generally feasible, and is currently conducting a pilot project to serve as a reference for future cooling system projects.

     In planning reclaimed water supply system, the Government will take into account the actual situation of the areas, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility, including the construction and operational costs, flushing water demand, proximity to tertiary sewage treatment plants which can provide highly treated discharge water, etc.

     With the upgrading of Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works to an effluent polishing plant with tertiary treatment level, the Government has constructed the first water reclamation plant in Shek Wu Hui to further process tertiary treated effluent to reclaimed water. This water reclamation plant was commissioned in March 2024 and has begun to supply reclaimed water in phases to certain areas of Sheung Shui and Fanling for flushing purpose. In addition, the Government plans to construct reclaimed water plants and the associated facilities in Yuen Long, Yuen Long South, and the San Tin Technopole. The consultants are currently carrying out the relevant design work. At present, it is anticipated that the reclaimed water plants will be completed progressively starting from 2033.

     Provided that it is technically feasible and economically viable, the Government will continue to expand the application of reclaimed water to other non-potable uses, in order to contain the growth of fresh water demand. The Government will also continue to implement the formulated water resources strategies, encouraging enterprises to adopt water-saving technologies on the one hand, and developing diversified water resources on the other hand, to support the sustainable development of all sectors in Hong Kong.

(5) The Government has rolled out a series of policies and measures to advance new industrialisation and foster the development of AI and data science industries in Hong Kong. As more enterprises and new industries establish a presence in Hong Kong, the demand for resources is expected to grow. In planning industrial land and land for innovation and technology, the Government will carry out feasibility studies, allocate and plan for the necessary infrastructure and facilities (including water for innovative industries process and cooling), to cope with the development of innovations and technologies. The Government will continue to engage closely with the relevant innovation and technology organisations, continue to enhance infrastructure and ancillary facilities, and provide necessary supports for these enterprises (for example, assistance in coordination and liaison with relevant Government departments). 

Ends/Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:40

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