Mr Edwin TONG Ka-hung, the Director of Drainage Services, announced at the briefing that two flooding blackspots, namely Ping Kong in Sheung Shui and Nam Wa Po in Tai Po, have been removed, reducing the number of flooding blackspots across the territory to eight. Looking back, all the work carried out by DSD over the past year, including the implementation of Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme, Kai Tak River Improvement Works, Regulation of Shenzhen River Stage IV, Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A, Relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to Caverns and other major projects, was aimed at providing the community with a safer and better living environment.

Looking ahead, Mr TONG indicated that climate change has brought many challenges to drainage services. In the face of extreme rainfall, rising sea level, and increasing runoffs due to urban development, he stated that DSD will employ the basic three-pronged flood prevention strategy, i.e. stormwater interception, flood storage and drainage improvement. Regarding drainage management, the “sponge city” concept will be adopted with the use of green roofs and porous pavements to create a natural environment and reduce surface runoffs. Facilities including lakes and riverside parks will also be utilised to retain a certain amount of stormwater during heavy rain to attenuate the peak flow.

Mr TONG shared with the media various revitalisation schemes for water bodies. He mentioned that DSD commenced in late 2015 a consultancy study to recommend feasible ways to revitalise the nullahs and rivers in Hong Kong while taking into account their unique features. The proposals will serve as a reference for large-scale drainage improvement works and drainage network plans for new development areas to ensure smooth drainage, promote greening and biodiversity, beautify the environment and facilitate water-friendly activities. Mr TONG expected that the river park to be built near Tung Chung River under the Tung Chung New Town Extension and the flood prevention lake to be constructed under the Anderson Road Quarry Development will not only prevent flooding, but also provide scenic public leisure areas and promote water-friendly culture and activities.

Mr TONG added that DSD has actively incorporated sustainability elements into its facilities, which include, for example, better use of solar power, biogas and other renewable energy; implementation of green measures like extensive planting, vertical greening and roof greening at its works; parallel introduction of sustainable drainage systems to reduce surface runoffs through porous pavements and collect rainwater for irrigation, toilet flushing or other non-potable uses.

After the briefing, DSD staff toured the media around the Kowloon City No. 1 Sewage Pumping Station with the “Oasis for the Soul” as its design theme. This pumping station is different from the conventional ones and is excellent in terms of site aspects, energy use, water use, materials aspects, indoor environmental quality, as well as innovations and additions, making it the first government infrastructure facility to win the Platinum Rating (the highest rating) of Final Assessment under the BEAM Plus for New Buildings in late 2015.


 

Mr Edwin TONG Ka-hung, the Director of Drainage Services, briefing the media on DSD’s work 

Mr TONG telling the media the background of the project about Kowloon City No. 1 Sewage Pumping Station


 



Miss POON Wing-chi, an engineer of DSD, explaining to the media the green features of the Kowloon City No. 1 Sewage Pumping Station


 

Mr TONG being interviewed by the media