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Water is the origin of life and one of the most precious resources in the world. Since 1960s, our country has been providing uninterrupted supply of Dongjiang (DJ) water to Hong Kong and maintaining a stable quality and quantity to support our sustainable social and economic development. We can hardly rely on local yield collected from rainwater to meet the needs of the public, and therefore today, DJ water has accounted for 70% to 80% of our total fresh water demand to resolve our difficulty in water supply. We are very grateful to the country’s support for Hong Kong.

The current DJ water supply agreement is due to expire by the end of this year. We have been negotiating with the Guangdong (GD) authorities on the new three-year agreement since early this year. Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) conducted their annual visit to GD last month to observe the quality of DJ water. This time, I invite colleagues from the Water Supplies Department (WSD) to share with the public the background of DJ water supply and look forward to the future. The ACWS delegation will also share the efforts made by GD in safeguarding the quality of DJ water which show our country’s care and support to Hong Kong all along.

Hong Kong suffered from water rationing

Chief Engineer (Development) of the WSD, Mr YIP Ka-chun, Gary, says that in 1960s, water rationing was imposed in Hong Kong from time to time due to insufficient water resources. In 1963, Hong Kong faced a disastrous drought and severe water rationing was implemented with only 4 hours of supply every 4 days, which seriously impacted to people’s livelihood and economy. Since then, the GD and Hong Kong authorities have detailed discussions and reached a consensus on the immediate implementation of the DJ-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Water Supply Scheme. With the continuous hard work of the GD side, the construction of the Supply Scheme along an 83-km route was completed in about one year.

Laying foundation for Hong Kong’s long-term development

DJ water has laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s long-term development since its importation to Hong Kong in 1965. The annual supply of DJ water has been greatly increased from the initial quantity of 68.2 million cubic metres (mcm) to the current annual supply ceiling of 820 mcm, securing a sufficient and stable supply of DJ water to Hong Kong.

Maintaining the “Package Deal Deductible Sum” approach

Upon the expiry of the current DJ water supply agreement at the end of this year, the new water supply agreement will continue with the “Package Deal Deductible Sum” approach allowing a deduction in water price according to the actual amount of DJ water supplied. For example, at years with more local yield collected from rainwater and less DJ water is required, this approach can avoid wastage of surplus DJ water resources and save cost for water delivery.

The new agreement will continue to stipulate an annual supply ceiling of 820 mcm to meet the actual needs of Hong Kong. If there are further needs, the annual supply can be increased to 1 100 mcm for better securing of our water supply.

ACWS’s visit to the DJ Water Supply System

The quality of DJ water has been rigorously monitored by the GD side. According to the current water supply agreement, the GD side will maintain the quality of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong in compliance with Type II waters in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water, which is the highest national standard for surface water applicable for normal consumption.

Professor Joseph KWAN Kai-cho, Chairman of the ACWS, says that to learn more on the latest situation of the quality of DJ water and the DJ water supply system, the ACWS conducted a two-day visit to GD last month. Members of the ACWS visited the Xinfengjiang Reservoir in Heyuan, the intake point of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong at Taiyuan Pumping Station in Dongguan, Jinhu aqueduct in Tangxia, Dongguan, the Shawan River and the bio-nitrification plant located upstream of the Shenzhen Reservoir. They also had direct communication with local government officials.

Appreciation to GD for their efforts in safeguarding DJ water quality

He says that in the current and past two visits, he was impressed by the rigorous and and attentive efforts of GD side towards the water quality testing system. Members were very satisfied with the water quality and they sincerely thanked GD side for their efforts in safeguarding the quality of DJ water, which include the formulation and strict enforcement of relevant standards to protect water resources and the tremendous investment to enhance infrastructure facilities.

Various environmental regulations introduced

Ir NG Chun-keung, member of the ACWS, says that during the visit, they went to the Xinfengjiang Reservoir at the upstream of DJ with large storage capacity. They learned that the local government in Heyuan has introduced many environmental regulations, including prohibition on operating polluting industries in the reservoir protection area, and shutdown of poultry farms and food factories. Various environmental improvement measures have also been implemented, such as agricultural pollution control and construction of sewage treatment plants along the DJ. As for town planning, all industrial projects in Heyuan have to be confined in a designated industrial areas, while the development of projects which do not meet the discharging standards has been rejected.

The DJ-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Water Supply Scheme has undergone three expansions from 1970s to 1990s and it was holistically improved in early 2000s. All infrastructures were designed, funded and constructed by the GD authorities. These improvement measures serve testimony of the GD’s input and care in safeguarding the quality of DJ water.

Roving exhibition to deepen community’s understanding of DJ water

To deepen community’s understanding of the background of DJ water supply to Hong Kong, as well as its importance to Hong Kong and the great work of the GD Government, the WSD organises roving exhibition at various places in Hong Kong from this month to March next year. I have recently visited the first exhibition at Central Government Offices where Mr YAU Kwok-ting, Director of Water Supplies, showed me the extensive content of the exhibition. He says that the exhibition will take place at Lok Fu Place, Central Market and H2OPE CENTRE in Tin Shui Wai, etc. We look forward to your active participation.

Our country provides precious water resources to Hong Kong, not only making the city a better place for some 7 million people to live and work, but also manifesting the inseparable relationship between Hong Kong and mainland. We hope that Hong Kong and GD would enhance collaboration and build a better future together.