ENG-1993 — Page 272

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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Construction for the Au Tau Treatment Works Stage II, a new intake tower in Tai Lam Chung Reservoir, Sham Tseng Treatment Works Stage I, and extension of the Sheung Shui Treatment Works and Yau Kom Tau Treatment Works were in progress.

The detailed design for the Ma On Shan Treatment Works was completed in December. Tenders were invited from pre-qualified contractors, with a view to starting construction in April 1994.

Planning was in hand for the major new treatment works at Ngau Tam Mei. Further planning for the improvement of system capacity was also in progress to meet the demand arising from new developments in central and western Hong Kong Island-including the new reclamation areas in Central and Wan Chai-Sham Tseng, Kwun Tong, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and the northwestern New Territories.

Design work for additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Ap Lei Chau and Repulse Bay was completed, while that for Tuen Mun, Yau Kom Tau, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Tseung Kwan O, and the western Mid-Levels was in progress. The design for the flushing water supply system for Ma On Shan and Tai Po was substantially completed.

Design work was also in hand for the improvement of water supply to the metropolitan southeastern area of Kowloon, the enhancement of Tai Tam Tuk Pumping Station and the major renovation of the sea water supply system for central Kowloon.

Consultants were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study on the treatment and disposal of sludge generated by the existing treatment works. The consultancy agreement commenced in August and will be completed in early 1994.

Work on the permanent water supply system for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and other developments in North Lantau associated with the Port and Airport Development Strategy was being implemented in stages. The Stage I works, to be commissioned by mid-1996, include submarine and land mains, a water treatment works, pumping stations, a service reservoir and an aqueduct between Siu Ho Wan and Silvermine Bay.

Tai Wan Salt Water Pumping Station, which provides flushing water to a large area of East Kowloon, was upgraded by replacing the diesel-driven pumps with electrically-driven units capable of a greater output.

Improvements to chlorine storage facilities in the Tsuen Wan Treatment Works, Yau Kom Tau Treatment Works, Tai Po Tau Treatment Works, Tuen Mun Treatment Works and Tai Lam Chung Prechlorination House were completed at the end of the year. The improvements formed part of the mitigation measures recommended by consultants to improve the safety of chlorine storage. Major design work commenced for the extension of Tai Lam Chung Prechlorination House.

Water Accounts and Customer Relations

The number of the Water Supplies Department's consumer accounts continued to rise at a rate of about three per cent and the consumer account base expanded to approximately 2.01 million accounts at the end of 1993. Computer systems were widely employed to provide efficient enquiry services; to handle applications for water supply and change of consumer particulars; and to issue demand notes for water charges, connection fees and water deposits. In July, a new Electronic Meter Reading System, employing hand-held computers, was introduced to further improve the efficiency of the meter reading and billing processes. An Interactive Voice Response System will be introduced in early 1994 to