Water Conservation Week 2016 organised by the Water Supplies Department (WSD) is being held from today (November 17) for five days under the theme "Save Water - We Can". Featuring a rich variety of activities, the event aims to help the public understand the negative impacts of climate change on water resources and to encourage them to make further efforts to save water and help build a water conservation culture in the community.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Enoch Lam, said that the WSD's educational activities on water conservation cater for various sectors in the community. In respect of the business sector, the WSD has rolled out the Best Practice Guidelines for Water Usage in collaboration with the hotel and catering industries that consume relatively higher amounts of water to provide a reference to practitioners for their day-to-day operations. As regards the education sector, the WSD distributed the Cherish Water Campus teaching kit to all primary schools in Hong Kong last year and will extend the programme to kindergartens next year to help nurture water-saving habits in early childhood.

     Also officiating at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Hon Chi-keung, said that erratic weather brought about by climate change may lead to a water crisis. In this connection, the Government has prepared a drought contingency plan with the aim of maintaining water supplies even in emergency situations. He also appealed to the public to continue to work together to spread the message of water conservation for the betterment of the Earth.

     Highlights of Water Conservation Week 2016 include the exhibition "Water Conservation - Past · Present · Future", eco-tours of Mai Po and Tai Tam, guided tours, a drama, a carnival, variety performances, workshops and seminars. Admission is free.

     For details of Water Conservation Week 2016, please visit the WSD webpage (www.wsd.gov.hk/wcw) or the Facebook fan page of the mascot of the event, Water Save Dave (www.facebook.com/watersavedave.hk).

Ends/Thursday, November 17, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:12

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