The Environment | 315
the relatively congested Victoria Harbour to receive large volumes of effluent, although highly treated, on a long-term basis.
In late 2001, the Government initiated a series of trials and studies to address these issues and to study the four options suggested by the expert panel. The trials and studies confirmed that it would be technically feasible to apply the biological aerated filter system, a compact sewage treatment technology, to treat the wastewater effectively under Hong Kong conditions, and that discharging the treated effluent into the harbour using short outfall would be environmentally acceptable on a long-term basis. The trials and studies also confirmed that all four options were technically feasible and that the centralised option performed more favorably in the evaluation.
Taking into consideration the findings of the trials and studies, as well as other planning, social and financial issues, the Government proposes to implement the subsequent stages of the scheme, now collectively called HATS Stage 2, in two phases. The first phase (HATS Stage 2A) will involve building deep tunnels to bring the untreated sewage from the remaining parts of Hong Kong Island to the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works. The treatment works will be expanded to provide centralised chemical treatment for all sewage from the whole of the HATS catchment with fast track provision of disinfection. Under the second phase (HATS Stage 2B), new biological treatment facilities on a site adjacent to the existing Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Plant will be built. In June 2004, the Government launched a five-month public consultation exercise to gather views on the way forward for HATS Stage 2. The consultation exercise ended on November 20 and the Government is considering the views and comments received. More details on the findings of the trials and studies and the public consultation exercise are available at the 'A Clean Harbour for Hong Kong' website, http://www.cleanharbour.gov.hk.
Sewerage Master Plans
Hong Kong has been divided into 16 areas for which sewerage master plans (SMPs) have been drawn up. The improvement works recommended under these SMPs are being carried out in a phased sewage programme to cater for the present and future development needs of Hong Kong. The first set of recommended works under the Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan SMP were completed in 1997, while the other recommended works under various SMPs are being implemented progressively.
In light of revised population forecasts and development proposals, the sewerage master plans for Yuen Long, Kam Tin, Central and East Kowloon, Tuen Mun, Tsing Yi, the Outlying Islands, Hong Kong Island, North District and Tolo Harbour areas have been reviewed and proposals for further upgrading works are being pursued on a priority basis.