LCQ18: Sewerage system in the rural areas of Yuen Long
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Question:
Some rural areas, such as the six heungs of Yuen Long (i.e. Ping Shan Heung, Ha Tsuen Heung, Kam Tin Heung, Pat Heung, San Tin Heung and Shap Pat Heung), have all along relied on traditional septic tanks for sewage treatment, requiring residents to arrange sewage treatment themselves, which may cause hygiene and odour issues during the process. Poorly maintained septic tanks will also lead to sewage being discharged into stormwater drains, resulting in pollution. Although the trunk sewer in Kam Tin, Yuen Long was completed some time ago, it has yet to be connected to the rural villages. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of rural villages in the six heungs of Yuen Long which are currently using traditional septic tanks and those which have been connected to the trunk sewer for sewage treatment, according to government statistics;
(2) given that, in reply to my question on April 30, 2025, the Environment and Ecology Bureau indicated that the investigation study for the sewerage systems of eight village areas (Ha Ko Po, Ko Po San Tsuen, Ko Po Tsuen (Kam Tin), Tsz Tong Tsuen (Kam Tin), Wing Lung Wai, Kam Tin San Tsuen, Tai Hong Wai and Kat Hing Wai) in Kam Tin, Yuen Long had been completed, of the latest progress and timetable of the public sewer connection works for these villages;
(3) of the respective numbers of complaint cases received by the authorities each year in the past five years concerning (i) sewerage system hygiene issues and (ii) hygiene and odour issues arising from traditional septic tanks in the six heungs of Yuen Long, together with a tabulated breakdown by the six heungs of Yuen Long; and
(4) whether the authorities will, by taking the opportunity of developing the Northern Metropolis, improve the pipeline design in the rural areas of Yuen Long (for example, by comprehensively connecting the branch sewers to the trunk sewer, phasing out traditional septic tanks, and redesigning fresh water pipes and fibre-based networks); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been proactively planning and extending the sewerage infrastructure over the years to strive for continuous improvement in the public hygiene condition and water quality in rivers and marine waters. In consultation with the Development Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Holden Chow is as follows:
(1) There are 154 villages within the six heungs in Yuen Long, of which 14 villages have already been provided with public sewerage systems. In addition, the Drainage Services Department is currently constructing a village sewerage system for Tung Tau Tsuen in Shap Pat Heung, with the works expected to be completed in 2028.
(2) The implementation of village sewerage projects is a lengthy process. Pre-construction work involves various processes, including planning, feasibility studies, detailed design, public consultation, gazettal and land resumption, etc. In addition, given intertwined land ownership in some villages, consultation on sewerage schemes and land resumption arrangements requires thorough communication and the attainment of consensus with relevant stakeholders before the projects can be taken forward in an orderly manner. It is difficult to draw up a concrete works schedule for the village sewerage works in Kam Tin areas, Yuen Long at this stage. The Government will continue to strengthen communication with stakeholders such as District Councils, Rural Committees, and village representatives, to plan and implement the village sewerage projects in an orderly manner.
(3) In the past five years (2021 to 2025), the number of hygiene and odour complaints received by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) concerning the use of septic tank for sewage treatment in the six heungs in Yuen Long is tabulated below:
| Year | Complaint (number of cases) | Total | |||||
| Ping Shan Heung | Ha Tsuen Heung | Shap Pat Heung | Kam Tin Heung | Pat Heung | San Tin Heung | ||
| 2021 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 35 |
| 2022 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 34 |
| 2023 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 47 |
| 2024 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 31 |
| 2025 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
The EPD does not have a breakdown of the number of complaints by the categories requested.
(4) The Government attaches great importance to "urban-rural integration" in the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM). In this connection, the Development Bureau will promulgate guidelines on promoting "urban-rural integration" in the NM within this year. The guidelines will propose a number of measures, which include seizing the opportunity of public works projects to be implemented by the Government for the New Development Areas to provide infrastructures for the villages nearby under these projects. Besides, the Government will suitably improve transport connections to rural areas in the vicinity and other infrastructures when taking forward the developments in the NM.
Regarding fiber-based networks, the Office of the Communications Authority will continue to encourage and assist network operators in the advance planning for new development areas and strengthening of telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas to enhance network coverage and capacity in Hong Kong (including rural areas in Yuen Long), ensuring that various development needs of new development areas can be catered for.
Ends/Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:30
Issued at HKT 12:30
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