LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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As a result of the expected decrease in demand for raw water from Guangdong due to the heavy rainfall in recent years and the declining demand from industry, an agreement was reached with the Guangdong Provincial Authority in March 1998 to reduce the supply from 780 million cubic metres to 760 million cubic metres in 1998. The annual increase in supply quantity from 1999 onwards will also decrease to 10 million cubic metres up to 2004, beyond which the annual supply quantity will be subject to further review. The designed maximum capacity of the supply system is 1.1 billion cubic metres per annum.
Under the same agreement, Hong Kong will provide an interest-free loan of $ 2.37 billion towards the construction of a $4.1 billion closed aqueduct system for conveying water to Hong Kong to ensure a good raw water quality.
Water Storage and Consumption
Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 1998, 568 million cubic metres of water were in storage, compared with 485 million cubic metres at the end of 1997. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held 507 million cubic metres. A particularly high rainfall of 2 575 millimetres
16 per cent above the annual average of 2 214 millimetres - was recorded in 1998.
A peak daily consumption of 2.74 million cubic metres was recorded on August 1, compared with the 1997 peak of 2.77 million cubic metres. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.51 million cubic metres, compared with the 1997 average of 2.5 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 916 million cubic metres, compared with 913 million cubic metres in 1997. In addition, 199 million cubic metres of sea water were supplied for flushing, compared with 198 million cubic metres in 1997.
Water Works
Construction work for the two treatment works at Tai Po and Ngau Tam Mei and for the Sham Tseng Treatment Works Stage II was in progress. Construction continued of the additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Kowloon West and South, Pok Fu Lam, Wan Chai, Western and Central areas on Hong Kong Island, Tseung Kwan O, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. The sea water supply system in Tseung Kwan O was completed in September 1998 while the major renovation work of the sea water supply system for Central Kowloon, Central and Western areas on Hong Kong Island continued.
To minimise leakage and unaccounted-for water, a 20-year programme for the replacement of some 3 050 kilometres of watermains was under planning. Other planning continued for increased capacity to meet the demand from new developments in Central, Western and south-western areas on Hong Kong Island, Kwun Tong, Yau Tong, Tsing Yi, Yuen Long, North Lantau, Tseung Kwan O and the north-eastern and north-western New Territories. Major design work mainly concentrated on the provision of additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Kowloon East, West Kowloon Reclamation, Pok Fu Lam, Western, Central and Wan Chai areas on Hong Kong Island, Yau Tong, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tai Po.