LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
tender. Dismantling and removal of the plant was completed during the year and the site, due to its convenient location in relation to the new airport, is proposed for use as a staging area for the construction of the new airport.
Planning studies were completed during the year for the improvement of water supply to South-east Kowloon, Yuen Long and Sha Tin. These included the provision of salt water supplies to Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. Planning is in hand for major new treatment works at Pak Ngau Shek and Ngau Tam Mei. Further planning for the improvement of system capacity to meet the demand arising from new developments in West Kowloon, Tseung Kwan O, the metropolitan eastern, central and western areas of Hong Kong Island and the North-west New Territories is also in progress.
A conceptual plan was finalised for works to be implemented in stages to supply water to the new airport and other developments in North Lantau associated with the Port and Airport Development Strategy. Consultants were engaged to undertake detailed investigation, design and supervision of the Stage I works with a view to achieving the target completion date of mid-1996 in order to phase-in with the commissioning of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. Before completion of the permanent system, the water requirement of construction activities for the new airport and other infrastructural projects will be met by a temporary water supply system.
Consultants have been appointed to carry out the investigation, design and construction of the Ma On Shan Treatment Works. Other major design works in progress included the extension to Sheung Shui Treatment Works and the flushing water supply system in Wan Chai, Siu Sai Wan, Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. Design of additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply network at Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Yau Kom Tau, Tseung Kwan O, Ap Lei Chau and Repulse Bay continued. Design works for improvement of chlorine storage facilities in Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun Treatment Works were also in progress.
Pak Kong Treatment Works Stage II, Au Tau Treatment Works Stage I and the sludge treatment and disposal facilities of the Sha Tin Treatment Works were completed and put into operation. Construction works for Sham Tseng Treatment Works and extension of Yau Kom Tau Treatment Works commenced.
The distribution system was extended and enlarged to meet urban and rural demands in the territory. Expansion of the distribution network to supply remote villages in the New Territories continued.
The number of consumer accounts continued to rise at a rate of about four per cent per annum. With a consumer account base of nearly 1.9 million in the territory, computer systems were widely employed to provide efficient enquiry services, handling applications for change of consumerships, and issuing water bills and deposit demand notes. Efforts to promote autopay service continued, and the number of consumer accounts using autopay for water charges reached 172 000 or about nine per cent of all the consumers.
A series of publicity campaigns on the concept of Save Water was mounted throughout the year. The public was reminded of its responsibility for arranging regular checks and maintenance for their plumbing installations and for prompt repair of any leaking water pipes. Attention was particularly drawn to the possible occurrence of underground or concealed leakage which could lead to waste of water and excessively high water bills. In view of the large number of enquiries on the calculation of domestic water charges, a publicity programme was launched to assist the public.
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