|
Voice Out for Hong Kong's Water Security!
Having been a long-term advocate for modernizing the city's water management policy, Civic Exchange celebrates a step forward for Hong Kong's water security. On November 6, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD) launched a 90-day public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102) (WWO). This is an important step towards enhancing drinking water safety and water efficiency.
Civic Exchange’s involvement with Hong Kong’s water supply and water management dates to 2009. Since then, we have examined in detail the origin and usage of Hong Kong’s water as well as threats to the supply both in Hong Kong and in the Pearl River Basin. We have also addressed issues in the demand and supply of water for Hong Kong and made recommendations on how Hong Kong’s Water Management Policy can be modernized and improved, and how our local water supply could be diversified to increase Hong Kong's climate resilience and water sustainability.
The latest amendments proposal covers a number of areas, including strengthening control of plumbing works and materials to further safeguard drinking water safety, a mandatory water efficiency labelling scheme for plumbing fixtures and water-consuming devices, and measures to prevent freshwater loss in private communal water mains.
We encourage you to submit your views and comments on or before 3 February 2021. The consultation document can be downloaded from the WSD's website. It is also available at all Home Affairs Enquiry Centres and the WSD's Customer Enquiry Centres. Members of the public can submit their views to the WSD by email (LR_consultation@wsd.gov.hk), by fax (2520 3256), or by post (Legislative Review Unit, Water Supplies Department, 46/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong).
Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov on Unsplash
為香港的水安全發聲!
11月6日，發展局與水務署就《水務設施條例》（第102章）的修訂建議展開為期90天的公眾諮詢。思匯長期倡議更新香港的水資源管理政策，並支持是次諮詢為香港的水資源安全踏出重要的一步。
思匯早在2009年已開始參與香港的水供應及水管理討論。自那時起，我們詳細研究了香港水的來源和使用情況，以及香港本身和珠江流域的供水威脅。我們也探討了香港的水需求和供應問題，並就如何更新和改進香港的水資源管理政策，使本地的水供應多元化和提高本地的氣候抗禦力提出建議。
修訂建議涵蓋範圍包括加強規管水管工程和水喉物料以進一步保障食水安全；水喉裝置及用水器具的強制性「用水效益標籤計劃」，以及防止私人公用水管流失食水的措施等。
我們呼籲大家攜手節約用水同時亦在2021年2月3日或之前提交您的意見和評論。諮詢文件可從水務署的網站下載，也可到各區民政事務處索取。此外，市民也可在各民政事務咨詢中心和水務署的客戶咨詢中心索取該文件。市民可通過電郵(LR_consultation@wsd.gov.hk)、傳真(2520 3256)或郵寄(香港灣仔告士打道7號入境事務大樓46樓水務署法例檢討組)向水務署提交意見。
|
