ENG-1996 — Page 296

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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model commenced in October 1995 and was completed at the end of 1996. The upgrading of the mathematical models began at the end of 1996 and will be completed by the end of 1997.

Due to the increase in marine traffic through Victoria Harbour and the reflection of ship waves from solid vertical seawalls, ship berthing and cargo handling have become more difficult and riding on small ships in the harbour has become less comfortable. To investigate the wave agitation problem in the harbour and recommend short- and long-term engineering solutions to ease the problem, the Civil Engineering Department has commissioned a study of inner harbour waves and their reduction. This began in February 1996 and will take about 12 months.

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

Rivers in Guangdong are the major source of water supply for Hong Kong, and all future increases in demand will be met from this source. This arrangement dates from 1960, when a scheme was first formulated for receiving a piped supply of 22.7 million cubic metres a year. The supply from Guangdong stipulated under the agreements was increased to 720 million cubic metres a year in 1996. This will continue to increase in stages to 840 million cubic metres per annum by the year 2000 and to 1.1 billion cubic metres per annum by the year 2010. Extra purchases may be made in years of low rainfall in Hong Kong. A major project for the necessary works to receive and distribute the additional supply is being implemented in stages, with the first stage being completed and commissioned in 1995.

Water Storage and Consumption

Full supply was maintained throughout the year. At the end of 1996, 477 million cubic metres of water were in storage, compared with 497 million cubic metres at the end of 1995. Hong Kong's two largest reservoirs, High Island and Plover Cove held 430 million cubic metres. Rainfall for the year was 2 249 millimetres, compared with the average of 2 214 millimetres.

A peak daily consumption of 2.82 million cubic metres was recorded on September 3, compared with the 1995 peak of 2.78 million cubic metres. The average daily consumption throughout the year was 2.54 million cubic metres, an increase of 0.7 per cent compared with the 1995 average of 2.52 million cubic metres. The consumption of potable water totalled 928 million cubic metres, compared with 919 million cubic metres in 1995. In addition, 185 million cubic metres of sea water were supplied for flushing, compared with 159 million cubic metres in 1995.

Water Works

Major construction work completed during the year included the Ma On Shan Treatment Works and Sai O Pumping Station. Construction work for the major renovation of the sea water supply system for Central Kowloon, Central and Western areas on Hong Kong Island was in progress. Planning work continued for increased capacity to meet the demand from new developments in Central and Western areas on Hong Kong Island, Kwun Tong, Yau Tong, Tsing Yi, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and the north-western New Territories.