Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04
CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
WRITTEN/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Head : 194 Water Supplies Department Subhead (No. & title) :
Programme : 1 Water Supply: Planning and Distribution
Controlling Officer : Director of Water Supplies
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question :
At present, how many remote villages in the New Territories are still not yet provided with
metered water supply? What is the programme of provision of metered water supply to
these villages? Will the government review the programme in light of the small population
of these remote villages?
Asked by : Hon. WONG Yung-kan
Reply :
There are 39 remote villages in the New Territories not yet provided with metered water
supply. Of these, 20 will be provided with metered water supply progressively from 2003
to 2004 when mainlaying works are completed. For the remaining 19 remote villages, a
recent review indicates that although it is technically feasible to provide treated water supply
to these villages, it is not cost effective to do so due to high construction and recurrent costs.
Therefore there is at present no programme for supplying treated water to these 19 remote
villages. However, the monitoring on the quality of the existing source of water (stream
water or ground water) will continue, and the situation will be reviewed periodically.
Gototop
Signature
Name in block letters
Post Title
Date
P W CHAN
Ag. Director of Water Supplies
19 March 2003
Reply Serial No.
ETWB(W)035
Question Serial No.
0590