Technology tour: Chief Executive Donald Tsang visits the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works and is briefed on tests to monitor treated effluent quality.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang says using SMS/voice messages to alert the public to potential flood risks is an innovative approach, adding the information would be useful to people at risk and will remind them to take appropriate precautions.

Visiting the Drainage Services Department today, Mr Tsang listened to the detailed plans for solving flooding in Sheung Wan.

Mr Tsang was pleased to see the drainage projects for solving flooding in Sheung Wan will become operational as scheduled before the 2009 rainy season.

These include laying a drain in Queen's Road Central in March 2006 to intercept and divert about 30% of the upland flows, which are to be drained to the low-lying area around Wing Lok Street for discharge into the harbour.

The contract for the Sheung Wan Floodwater Pumping Station foundation work will be awarded next month. Both the drain and pumping station are expected to go into operation before the 2009 rainy season.

Mitigating measures

Acting Director of Drainage Services Lai Fuk-kan said before these projects are completed, the department will implement flood-mitigating measures. 

"A local flood message dissemination service entitled 'Sheung Wan Flood Watch' has been in place since early April. SMS or voice messages will be sent to residents and shop operators who are subscribers in Wing Lok Street when the weather is bad and the tide will reach certain high levels.

"This service will remind them to take precautionary measures against any flood damage," Mr Lai said.

Mr Tsang said he hoped residents and shop operators in Wing Lok Street area will benefit from these warnings.

Sewage treatment enhancements

The Chief Executive also expressed his gratitude for the progress made in flood prevention in the New Territories.

He then visited the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works and its state-of-the-art laboratory. He was briefed on the plant's operation and tests being carried out to monitor the treated effluent's quality.

This laboratory adopts advanced technologies to conduct tests to ensure that the quality of the treated effluent meets all requirements in the discharge licence.