Newsletter No. 3
Welcome to DSD’s Newsletter for Kai Tak River improvement projects.
In order to improve the drainage capacity of the Kai Tak River and to mitigate flooding risk to surrounding areas, DSD is carrying out improvement works at upstream and midstream sections of the Kai Tak River. The improvement works at these sections of the Kai Tak River commenced in October 2011 and December 2013 respectively, for completion in 2017. This Newsletter provides you with latest progress of main construction works, recent public liaison activities and other relevant information of the projects.
Works Progress
The sections of box culvert between Tai Shing Street and Shatin Pass Road have been partially completed. The drainage capacity of these river sections is increased and hence reduces the flooding risk of the adjoining Choi Hung Road.
The progress of piling works and river improvement works is satisfactory.
Taken on 20th May 2015 under Red Rainstorm Signal
Temporary Traffic Arrangement
To facilitate the construction of box culvert, we will temporarily relocate the bus-stops at Choi Hung Road near Wong Tai Sin Police Station and implement associated traffic arrangement in the fourth quarter of 2015. A section of northbound carriageway of Choi Hung Road near Shatin Pass Road will be re-aligned to a temporary vehicular bridge in the Kai Tak River.
Improved Water Quality of Kai Tak Nullah
In the 1960s and 1970s, factories adjacent to the Kai Tak Nullah discharged a large amount of industrial wastewater directly into the Kai Tak Nullah. The water quality had become very bad with unpleasant smells.
In 1987, the Government implemented the“Tolo Harbour Effluent Export Scheme” to reduce the number of red tides occurred in Tolo Harbour. The treated effluent from the Shatin and Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works was transported to the Kai Tak Nullah for discharging to Victoria Harbour. This arrangement provided a flow of flushing water to the heavily polluted Kai Tak Nullah, and hence improve the water quality of the Kai Tak Nullah.
Water pollution within the Kai Tak Nullah in the past
Source: Associate Professor Fung Kam-Wing, University of Hong Kong
The water pollution within the Kai Tak Nullah has been greatly reduced recently. Fishes can be seen in the River again.
In recent years, we have also implemented several sewage interception projects. During dry seasons, the dry weather flow interceptor diverted polluted flow from the drainage system, to the sewerage systems for treatment and discharge. As a result, the water quality of the Kai Tak Nullah has been further improved.
There was a significant improvement in the water quality of the Kai Tak Nullah in recent years. Nowadays, fishes and birds can easily be seen along the Kai Tak Nullah. The “Kai Tak Nullah” is now named as “Kai Tak River”. Apart from improving the drainage capacity of the Kai Tak River, we seize the opportunity to revitalize the Kai Tak River as a green river corridor in urban area with aesthetic, landscaping and ecological elements for the public enjoyment.
Flood Prevention Measures
We have removed the existing water main, sewers and some public utilities located at the bottle-necks of the river to improve its drainage capacity.
Before
Existing condition
Lifting up and fixing water-filled barriers, coring drain holes at suitable locations
Clearing existing gullies along Choi Hung Road
Provide sand bags to nearby shops and residential buildings
Public Relations
We continue to maintain liaisons with the public and local stakeholders to keep them abreast of updated information of the projects.
1. Site Visit to Kai Tak River Improvement Projects
Members of Engineers Australia, Hong Kong Chapter, and the Hong Kong Institutions of Engineers visited Kai Tak River improvement projects in November 2014 and March 2015.
2. Ming Pao Daily and Wen Wei Po Interview
We were interviewed by Ming Pao Daily and Wen Wei Po in December 2014 about the Kai Tak River improvement projects.
3. Distribution of Red Packets
To celebrate the Year of Ram, we distributed red packets to nearby residents in February 2015.
