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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Stonecutter's Island sewage treatment plant in 2001. Some experts advised that this is at present the world's largest and most efficient chemically enhanced primary treatment works. It began operation in 1997, serving about 800 000 people in West Kowloon. Altogether, the collection tunnels and the treatment works will have cost about $8.3 billion on completion.
During the year, an International Review Panel appointed by the Government examined whether the original plans for the later stages of work to collect the remaining sewage from Hong Kong Island, to upgrade the treatment process and to build a long oceanic outfall to discharge the treated effluent remained the most suitable option, given the experience gained with the works so far. The panel comprised six experts in environmental protection, sewage treatment, engineering and economic analysis. They carried out a six-month review, which included public hearings, and presented their report in November.
The review has recommended that the feasibility of upgrading the treatment system to tertiary level be examined, together with the possibility of replacing the proposed long ocean outfall with shorter discharge tunnels within the harbour. Four options for further collecting and treating the sewage from the remaining catchment areas around the harbour and raising the sewage treatment level were also proposed.
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