The Water Supplies Department follows the latest international standards when approving applications for water pipes and fittings to ensure the quality of drinking water.
The department made the statement today in response to media enquiries on whether the standard it has adopted in the approval of valves is outdated.
It said the Waterworks Regulations stipulate that pipes and fittings must meet the British Standard and the latest revised edition of a specification issued by the British Standards Institution.
It said the department has adopted the BS EN12288:2010 standard in the approval of gate-valve applications and said the standard BS5154:1991 is still applicable to certain copper alloy valves.
The department checks for revisions to international standards to ensure they are adopted in Hong Kong, it added.