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The Drainage Services Department today (August 10) awarded a $68.3 million consultancy contract to carry out the investigation, design and construction stage services for upgrading of the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW) and eight preliminary treatment works under the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A.
¡°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,¡± Assistant Director of Drainage Services (Sewage Services), Mr Ko Wing-hon, said after signing the agreement.
He said work on the on-going investigation and design tasks was progressing satisfactorily. "The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the whole Stage 2A scheme is nearly completed and we are in the process of compiling the draft EIA report. We have also completed a preliminary design for the deep sewage tunnel system and are undertaking extensive ground investigations to collect detailed information on the ground conditions along the proposed tunnel alignment,¡± Mr Ko said.
"On the provision of disinfection at SCISTW, we have completed the EIA on the selected disinfection technology and are now making arrangements for public inspection of the EIA report in August in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance,¡± he said. .
HATS Stage 2A entails the construction of a 21-kilometre long sewage tunnel system, the expansion of treatment facilities and provision of disinfection at SCISTW, and the upgrading of eight existing preliminary treatment works on the northern and western sides of Hong Kong Island.
It is planned to advance the construction of part of the disinfection facility at SCISTW for completion by the end of 2009 to facilitate the early re-opening of the Tsuen Wan beaches. As for the 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 HATS programme is a major sewerage infrastructure project for Hong Kong. The commissioning of HATS Stage 1 in late 2001 has provided treatment to about 75% of the sewage discharged into Victoria Harbour and has since brought significant improvement in water quality to the eastern and central part of the harbour.
Upon the commissioning of HATS Stage 2A in 2014, the remaining 25% of sewage generated on the northern and western sides of Hong Kong Island will be collected for chemical treatment and disinfection, bringing about further improvement to the water quality in Victoria Harbour.
The consultancy contract was awarded to Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd.
Details of the HATS can be downloaded from the website: http://www.cleanharbour.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, August 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:17
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