DWS attends 5th GBA Water Forum (with photos)

     The Director of Water Supplies, Mr Tony Yau, attended the 5th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Water Forum in Dongguan from November 8 to 10. Mr Yau spoke at the CEO Summit, took part in a dialogue session with experts and academicians and visited the Songshanhu Water Treatment Plant located in the Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone of Dongguan, concluding a fruitful trip.

     The three-day forum, with the theme "Smart Waterworks for a Green Bay Area", was co-organised by 11 water supply organisations in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and hosted by the Dongguan Water Group Company Limited. The Vice Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal People's Government, Mr Chen Qingsong; the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the Dongguan Municipal People's Government, Ms Yu Lijun; the Director of the Dongguan Water Authority, Mr Tao Jin; the Drainage Services Department and over 400 representatives from 11 water supply organisations attended the forum and exchanged views on subjects including water supply, drainage, sewage, green low carbon and smart waterworks, etc.

     During the forum, Mr Yau mentioned that Dongjiang (DJ) water has been supporting Hong Kong's continuous social and economic development, contributing to Hong Kong's achievement as the international financial centre it is today. DJ water accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of total fresh water consumption in Hong Kong, and its uninterrupted supply for nearly 60 years has solved Hong Kong's water shortage problem in the long run, making the city a better place for some 7 million Hong Kong people to live and work. Following the rapid development in the GBA in recent years, there is a growing demand for water supply. Hong Kong together with other cities in the GBA will continue to closely co-operate to better utilise water resources in the GBA for the well-being of the people. This annual GBA water forum is a beneficial platform for experts to exchange views and promote collaboration.

     Mr Yau visited the Songshanhu Water Treatment Plant, which is located in the Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone of Dongguan and adjacent to the Songmushan Reservoir. The plant, having dual water sources from Dongjiang and Xijiang, ultilises an all-in-one treatment process that includes conventional treatment, ozone-activated carbon and ultrafiltration membrane processes. The plant is the largest all-in-one process water treatment plant in Asia that was completed in a single phase.

     Mr Yau spoke to the top management of water supply organisations in the GBA at the CEO Summit during the forum, sharing information on the transformation of the water supply through resilience, innovation and sustainability in Hong Kong. Under the Total Water Management Strategy, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) strives to build resilience in the fresh water supply with diversified water resources. In particular, the first stage of the Tseung Kwan O desalination plant currently under construction will commence operation next month. Moreover, to promote the use of recycled water (including reclaimed water and treated grey water) as alternative water resources for non-potable uses, the WSD is proactively carrying out the related infrastructure works. Mr Yau also talked about the challenges of climate change and the development of renewable energy technologies, etc. He also took part in a dialogue session and exchanged views with experts and academicians on subjects relating to water matters.

     Mr Yau returned to Hong Kong this afternoon (November 10).