ENG-1993 — Page 271

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

During the year under review, 100 million cubic metres of uncontaminated mud and five million cubic metres of contaminated mud were disposed of under licences issued by the Environmental Protection Department. The uncontaminated mud was dumped in spoil grounds and in worked-out borrow areas, and the contaminated mud was placed in disposal pits specially designed to ensure containment.

Water Supplies

Water from China

China is the major single source of water supply for Hong Kong, and all future increases in demand will be met from this source. This arrangement dates back to 1960, when a scheme was first formulated for receiving a piped supply of 22.7 million cubic metres a year. The annual supply from China stipulated under the agreements has increased to 630 million cubic metres for the period from March 1993 to February 1994, and this will continue to increase in stages to 840 million cubic metres by the year 2000. Apart from the fixed quantities of supply stipulated in the agreements, there are provisions for the purchase of additional supplies from China in years of low rainfall in Hong Kong.

Following the agreement reached with the Chinese authorities in December 1989 to increase the China water supply up to a maximum of 1 100 million cubic metres per year to cope with anticipated demands beyond 1994 and into the early 2000s, a conceptual plan was developed for the necessary works to receive and distribute the additional supply. The works are being implemented in stages, with Stage I works to be substantially completed by the end of 1994. These works include some 22 kilometres of large-diameter delivery pipes; new pumping stations at Muk Wu, Tai Po Tau, Au Tau and Sai O; and major improvements to an existing pumping station at Tai Mei Tuk. Work on the first contract commenced in December 1991, and work on all the pumping stations and pipelines is now in progress.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 1993, there were 386 million cubic metres of water in storage, compared with 315 million cubic metres at the end of 1992, with 331 million cubic metres being stored in Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove. Rainfall for the year was 2 344 millimetres, compared with the average of 2 214 millimetres. Water piped from China during the year totalled 627 million cubic metres.

A peak consumption of 2.78 million cubic metres per day was recorded, compared with the 1992 peak of 2.82 million cubic metres. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.51 million cubic metres, an increase of 3.3 per cent compared with the 1992 average of 2.43 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 915 million cubic metres, compared with 889 million cubic metres in 1992. In addition, 129 million cubic metres of sea water for flushing was supplied, compared with 127 million cubic metres in 1992.

Water Works

The water distribution system continued to be extended and enlarged to meet urban and rural demands in the territory. This included expansion of the distribution network to supply remote villages in the New Territories.

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