The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, signed a new agreement on the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong from 2018 to 2020 with the Director General of the Department of Water Resources of the Guangdong Province, Mr Xu Yongguo, in Hong Kong today (December 14). The Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Hon Chi-keung, the Under Secretary for Development, Mr Liu Chun-san, and the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Wong Chung-leung, also attended the signing ceremony.
The agreement will guarantee Hong Kong a stable yet flexible supply of Dongjiang water up to 2020 based on the city's actual needs. The supply will cater for Hong Kong's requirements - even under extreme drought conditions with a return period of once in 100 years.
Under the new agreement, water prices will be increased by 0.3 per cent annually. Hong Kong will pay fixed lump sums of $4,792.59 million, $4,807.00 million and $4,821.41 million for 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. The increases generally reflect the changes of the relevant price indices of Guangdong and Hong Kong and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the Hong Kong dollar.
Mr Wong also had a working meeting with the Guangdong authorities to review the Dongjiang water quality monitoring work and the progress of various measures being undertaken by the Guangdong side to enhance water quality. Under the current water supply agreement, the Guangdong side agrees to maintain the quality of the Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong in compliance with Type II waters in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water, which is the country's highest standard for surface water applicable to human consumption.
In addition, regarding the review of the payment approach, the working group established by both sides will continue to explore different payment approaches, such as combination of a fixed lump sum for a guaranteed supply quantity, above which a variable sum will be made based on the actual supply quantity. The working group will strive to complete the related work before the next supply agreement.
Mr Xu and accompanying Guangdong officials also visited the Mainland East Laboratory of the Water Supplies Department today. Tomorrow, they will visit the Plover Cove Reservoir to better understand the reception and transfer arrangement for Dongjiang water in Hong Kong, as well as going to the headquarters of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department to learn about the slope safety system in Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:05
