ENG-1988 — Page 248

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

public utility companies by providing them with the up-to-date territory-wide basic land data and a unique geographical reference system thereby facilitating the integration of various land-related information systems and the expeditious exchange of data among users. The complete system is expected to be in full operation by end of 1992, although some district units will be operative before that date.

Water Supplies

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the beginning of 1988, there were 350 million cubic metres of water in storage, compared with 352 million cubic metres at the start of 1987. The combined storage of Hong Kong's largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove, was 293 million cubic metres. Rainfall for the year was 1 685 millimetres compared with the average of 2 225 millimetres. Water piped from China during the year totalled 515 million cubic metres. The Lok On Pai Desalting Plant was not operated and continued to remain as a 'stand-by resource'. The salinity of water at High Island remained at about 13 milligrams per litre while at Plover Cove the salinity varied from 43 milligrams per litre at the beginning of the year to 71 milligrams per litre at the end of the year.

A peak consumption of 2.49 million cubic metres per day was experienced, compared with the 1987 peak of 2.35 million cubic metres per day. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.21 million cubic metres, an increase of 7.3 per cent over the 1987 average of 2.06 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 808 million cubic metres compared with 750 million cubic metres. In addition, 110 million cubic metres of salt water for flushing was supplied, compared with 108 million cubic metres.

Planning studies for the improvement of fresh water supplies to areas in southern Junk Bay hinterland, Sham Tseng, Tsing Lung Tau, Repulse Bay and Stanley, were completed in 1988. Major studies in hand included the increase in water treatment capacity of the territory by providing a new treatment works at Ma On Shan and extending the ones at Sheung Shui, and the formulation of a new supply scheme for reception and distribution of additional water from China beyond 1994.

During the year, construction works continued on additional water transfer facilities and for systems augmenting supplies to Kowloon East and Hong Kong Island East. The Tai Po Tau/Ngau Tam Mei aqueduct was completed which enables water to be transferred from Tai Po Tau to the western part of the New Territories. The Harbour Island Pumping Station and the Tolo Channel aqueduct were also completed which will supply water from Plover Cove Reservoir to the Pak Kong Treatment Works now under construction. Work on the eastern cross harbour main from Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon to Hong Kong Island commenced during the year and is scheduled to be completed in mid-1989.

To improve the water supply system, design and construction of installations continued at Shau Kei Wan, Sai Wan Ho, Wan Chai, Chai Wan, Central and Western, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Chung Hom Kok, Shek O, Ho Man Tin and Kowloon East areas. The treatment works at Red Hill was uprated. In the New Territories, works to provide water supplies to new towns were carried out in phase with development. Major works in progress are construction of the Au Tau Treatment Works and the Lung Chung Road Centralised Workshop and design of a new supply system for Tin Shui Wai Stage I Development.

Satisfactory progress was made in improving the supply system on the outlying islands. Construction of a treatment works and a service reservoir at Cheung Sha on Lantau Island, and the laying of a submarine pipeline from the mainland to Ma Wan were near completion. Improvement works on water supply to Cheung Chau and Ping Chau continued.