Seven days have passed since the water contamination incident at Queen's Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court. Although the Water Supplies Department (WSD), Development Bureau, and Housing Department have provided explanations over the past few days, residents remain uneasy about consuming the water.
Yesterday afternoon, Chief Executive John Lee convened a high-level steering meeting, issuing four directives to relevant policy bureaus and departments and outlining a 10-point action plan to address the incident. The measures span short, medium, and long-term solutions, aiming to tackle both symptoms and root causes.
Key steps include:
- Establishing a 24-hour hotline to address resident inquiries
- Increasing water testing frequency by the WSD
- Conducting twice-daily inspections of filtration systems by the Housing Department
- Mobilizing "Care Teams" under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau to visit residents and understand their needs
The WSD has preliminarily determined that the bitumen particles in the water originated from an old pipe section upstream of Queen's Hill Estate. Officials from the Development Bureau and WSD will conduct an on-site inspection today, with plans to prioritize the replacement of this pipeline.
Lee emphasized that water safety is a major public concern and has instructed relevant departments to implement 10 specific measures, with Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong overseeing execution and reporting progress. Sources indicate that while the CE has been closely monitoring the situation, departmental responsiveness has been inadequate, leading to delays. Hence, he decisively elevated the matter by convening a high-level meeting and assigning oversight to the Deputy Financial Secretary.
Last night, Lee posted on social media detailing the SAR government's latest response. He stressed his deep concern over the incident and reiterated during the afternoon meeting that resolving water issues requires ensuring both safety and public confidence. The government has to guarantee that residents can drink water without worry, must act swiftly to eliminate concerns, and ensure a clean water supply.
Enhanced Water Testing & Transparency
The CE noted that currently, over 90% of Hong Kong's pipes do not use bitumen coatings. For the remaining bitumen-coated pipes, the WSD has installed filtration screens at critical points.
Lee instructed the Development Bureau to guide the WSD in risk-based assessments for additional filtration needs and propose a long-term pipe replacement plan, prioritizing the 400-meter steel pipe.
Sources reveal that during the meeting, the CE insisted on transparency, mandating daily water quality reports to address residents' concerns. Many Queen's Hill Estate residents are low-income families, with some relying on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA). Purchasing water filters or bottled water daily imposes a financial burden on them.
The government has now identified the source, paving the way for a permanent solution. Additional measures, such as upgrading filtration systems, providing temporary water supply, and increasing water quality monitoring, aim to better protect vulnerable residents.
Criticism of Departmental Responsiveness
Insiders noted that while the CE has prioritized transparency, directing early disclosure of progress and findings, departments lacked urgency, leading to sluggish progress. This prompted yesterday's high-level intervention.
Over the past week, the WSD repeatedly assured residents that the water was "safe to drink", citing technical explanations that bitumen is non-toxic. However, residents visibly observed black sediments, fueling understandable anxiety.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao; Journalists: Wang Yamao, Dai; English Editor: Darius)
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