Drainage Services Department

DSD project awarded Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize

The Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme – Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong, a project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has been awarded the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Municipal Infrastructure Category). The prize recognizes the project's outstanding performance in engineering technology innovation and the application of technology, as well as in driving high-quality industry development.

Attending the prize presentation ceremony held in Chengdu, Sichuan, today (September 22), the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok, said that the project is the DSD's first comprehensive municipal initiative integrating flood protection, sewage treatment and waterfront enhancement. The prize is a recognition of the team's efforts in delivering people-oriented and river-focused infrastructure projects, and highlights the achievements of the Hong Kong engineering sector in applying advanced technology and balancing flood protection with conservation.

The project integrates two major works, namely the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and the Enhancement Works for Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station. The approximately one-kilometre-long Tsui Ping River, which had in earlier years been artificially converted into a reinforced concrete open drainage channel, has been revitalised into a scenic riverside space through ecological restoration and installation of facilities including cross-river walkways and Hong Kong’s first smart water gate in a river channel. In addition, an underground sewage balancing tank with a capacity of 16,000 cubic metres was constructed beneath the sewage pumping station, while the 11,000-square-metre Cha Kwo Ling Promenade was built on its roof. The project not only enhances local flood resilience and improves the water quality of Victoria Harbour, but also unlocks waterfront space, connecting approximately 1.7 kilometres of coastline to form a continuous promenade and provide high-quality leisure space for the public.

The judging panel of the prize highly commended the project's adoption of innovative technologies and designs, in particular the "single site, multiple uses" model and the creation of green public spaces; the use of an artificial intelligence-based water level forecasting system and a smart site safety system during construction; the installation of a smart water gate in the river channel that rises and falls with the tides to effectively enhance construction efficiency and environmental performance; and the linking of river water level data with surrounding underground stormwater storage tanks through a sophisticated control system to form a co-ordinated "tank-lake-river" flood protection network, demonstrating excellent flood discharge performance.

Established by the China Civil Engineering Society and the Beijing Tien-yow Jeme Foundation for Development of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering, the Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize aims to commend civil engineering projects with outstanding achievements in technological innovation and application. The DSD was previously awarded the prize for its Stormwater Interception and Storage Schemes for Hong Kong Urban Areas project and the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme in 2014 and 2018 respectively.

The Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme – Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong, a project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has been awarded the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Municipal Infrastructure Category). Photo shows the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok (centre); the then Chief Engineer of the DSD, Mr Terence Tse (first right); and the Chief Engineer of the DSD, Mr Ian Wan (first left), both of whom oversaw the relevant project works, at the award presentation ceremony in Chengdu today (September 22).

The Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme – Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong, a project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has been awarded the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Municipal Infrastructure Category). Photo shows Tsui Ping River after revitalization.

The Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme – Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong, a project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has been awarded the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Municipal Infrastructure Category). Photo shows a panoramic view of Cha Kwo Ling Promenade on the roof of the Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station.

Overall configuration of the Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme – Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong.