Construction of part of the disinfection facility at Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works will be advanced, Assistant Director of Drainage Services Ko Wing-hon says.

Completion is now due by the end of 2009 to facilitate the early reopening of Tsuen Wan's beaches.

For the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A main works, construction is planned to start in 2009 and the whole of Stage 2A should be completed and commissioned by 2014, according to the current programme.

The Drainage Services Department today awarded a $68.3 million consultancy contract to Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong to carry out the investigation, design and construction stage services for upgrading of the Stonecutters Island treatment works and eight preliminary treatment works under the scheme.

"This is the last consultancy package for the planning and design of HATS Stage 2A. With its commencement, we can proceed with the design at full swing and co-ordinate with other on-going investigation and design tasks to produce an integrated and cost-effective design for the whole Stage 2A scheme," Mr Ko said.