China News Service, Hong Kong, May 14th. Title: Interview with the Director of Hong Kong Water Supplies Department: Dongjiang Water Supports Hong Kong’s Social and Economic Stability
China News Agency reporter Shi Bingyun Liu Chenyao
"The amount of rainwater collected by Hong Kong from its own catchment area of approximately 300 square kilometers each year can only account for 20 to 30% of the total fresh water consumption of 1 billion (cubic meters). It can be said that without the Dongshen Water Project, there would be no population in Hong Kong today. And the scale of development.” In this way, Lu Guohua, Director of the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, commented on the significance of the Dongshen Water Supply Project to Hong Kong.
Dongshen Engineering provides 80% of Hong Kong’s fresh water and is cost-effective
Lu Guohua recalled in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency a few days ago, “During the severe drought in 1963, Hong Kong experienced the most severe water system. Water was supplied every 4 days for 4 hours. People’s livelihood and the economy were hit hard.”
Lu Guohua said that the problem of water shortage in Hong Kong was solved by the Dongshen project.
This water supply project used tens of thousands of manpower. In March 1965, fresh water was exported to Hong Kong over 80 kilometers.
"The Dongjiang water, which has been uninterrupted for more than 50 years, is the main artery of Hong Kong. It supports the stable development of Hong Kong's society and economy, allowing the citizens to live and work in peace and contentment. At the same time, it also reflects the country's consistent care and support for Hong Kong. It also reflects the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland. Close relationship."
Lu Guohua said that at present, the Dongjiang Water Supply Agreement adopts a "turnkey" approach to ensure that the annual water supply to Hong Kong is capped at 820 million cubic meters.
At the same time, in the agreement, Hong Kong can increase the annual water supply ceiling to 1.1 billion cubic meters as needed.
"Ensure that even if Hong Kong suffers a drought that is once in a century, the water supply will not be affected."
It is reported that Hong Kong’s current fresh water supply portfolio includes three water sources, namely local rainfall collection, Dongjiang water and sea water for toilet flushing.
Local water collection accounts for 20 to 30% of the total annual fresh water consumption, and Dongjiang water accounts for 70 to 80%. In the future, 5% of seawater will be added for desalination.
Lu Guohua said that the current production cost of seawater desalination is still 30% higher than that of Dongjiang water, and its electricity consumption and carbon emissions are also much higher than the transportation and treatment of Dongjiang water. Importing Dongjiang water is a more cost-effective arrangement.
"West-to-East Water Transfer" requires collaborative management of water resources in the Greater Bay Area
With the development of the Pearl River Delta, the Dongshen Water Supply Project has also undergone 4 expansions, and the development of Dongjiang water is close to the upper limit.
With the launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cooperation and development framework, the country will continue to expand the allocation of water sources in the Pearl River Delta and introduce the Xijiang River with greater water flow.
Lu Guohua believes that the "West-to-East Water Diversion" will ease the demand for Dongjiang water in the region and provide a reserve for Hong Kong. He believes that the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project can further guarantee water supply to Hong Kong.
Lu Guohua said: "The "Water Resources Allocation Plan for the Dongjiang River Basin in Guangdong Province" formulated in 2008 by Guangdong Province is a good example of collaborative water resources management. It sets a quota for Dongjiang water available to cities in the Dongjiang River Basin and Hong Kong to avoid excessive river courses. Development."
Regarding the resource and development issues that the Greater Bay Area will face in the future, Lu Guohua said that the National Water Conservation Action Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Plan both put sustainable water resources management as a national concern. The strategy of sustainable social and economic development is of strategic significance.
In this regard, Hong Kong has been in contact with governments and water supply units in the region, sharing policies, experience and technological development to optimize water resources management in the entire Greater Bay Area and support the sustainable development of cities in the region.
Multi-pronged approach, hope that fresh water demand will still be less than 1 billion cubic meters by 2040
For long-term development, to control the demand for fresh water and improve the resilience of fresh water supply, Hong Kong has formulated a comprehensive water resource management strategy. The goal is to keep fresh water demand under about 1 billion cubic meters per year by 2040.
Lu Guohua introduced that Hong Kong’s water consumption per 10,000 Hong Kong dollar GDP is about 3.5 cubic meters. As an international metropolis, this level is better than many advanced cities.
However, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government hopes to further strengthen public water conservation education and raise society's awareness of water conservation.
For example, an automatic meter reading system is installed in new housing development projects to provide users with real-time water consumption data monitoring; for industries with high water consumption, such as the hotel industry, a manual for high-efficiency water consumption has also been developed.
In addition, the SAR government will also reduce the leakage rate of government water pipes. The goal is to drop from about 15% in 2017 to less than 10% in 2030.
In terms of upgrading technology to increase the use of seawater, Hong Kong is building a seawater desalination plant in Tseung Kwan O, which is expected to provide about 5% of the supply of edible water when completed in 2023.
In the future, the second phase will be expanded depending on water demand, and by then 10% of Hong Kong's edible water will be provided.
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