The Executive Council has decided the Government should implement the final stage of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme in two phases, taking into account the generally positive response received during a public consultation last year.

Announcing the implementation programme for HATS Stage 2 today, Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Keith Kwok said the first phase, Stage 2A, is targeted to be completed by 2013.

"Depending on the results of a review to be carried out in 2010/11 which will take account of population growth and the trend in water quality, we plan to commence Stage 2B upon completion of Stage 2A."

"By completing Stage 2A, we will be able to achieve most of our water quality criteria in the majority of the harbour area, thereby leading to a cleaner and healthier marine environment," Mr Kwok said.

The public's acceptance of the need to recover the full operational costs through sewage charges is a prerequisite for the Stage 2 programme to proceed, Mr Kwok stressed.

Polluter-pays principle supported

HATS Stage 2 will cost about $19 billion to construct. It will also require about $1.1 billion per year to operate.

Based on the polluter-pays principle, the Government will conduct a review of the existing levels of the sewage charge and trade effluent surcharge and put forward proposals for consultation later in the year.  

Mr Kwok also said that the results of the consultation revealed that most respondents supported the application of the polluter-pays principle to fund HATS' operational cost. 

"The Government is prepared to fund the capital cost of the facilities in Stage 2, but the resources for their ongoing operation must come from sewage charges.

"With public support of this principle, we will be able not only to proceed with Stage 2A for completion in 2013, but also to advance part of the disinfection facilities planned under Stage 2 for completion by 2008/09.

"This will bring further improvements to the water quality in the harbour and enable the beaches in Tsuen Wan to be re-opened at an early date," Mr Kwok added.

The Government consulted the public from June 21 to November 20 last year on the way forward for HATS Stage 2 which includes Stage 2A and Stage 2B.

Programme details

Stage 2A includes:

* extensing the deep tunnel network to collect and convey sewage from the remaining parts of Hong Kong Island to the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for proper treatment;

* expanding the existing chemical treatment capacity from the present design level of 1.7 million cubic metres daily to 2.8 million cubic metres; and

* providing disinfection to all HATS treated effluent before the effluent is discharged into the Harbour.

Stage 2B includes upgrading to biological treatment for all HATS flows.

For details of HATS and the consultation document, click here.