Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme fully commissioned (with photos)

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     The Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme came into full operation today (March 16), further enhancing the flood protection level in the Happy Valley and Wan Chai areas.

     Officiating at the commissioning ceremony, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said that with the concerted efforts of the project team, the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme was completed about a year ahead of schedule, which, coupled with other cost-saving measures, reduced the construction cost by $60 million or about 5 per cent of the ultimate target cost. The result is encouraging, he added.

     He said that the Scheme is a successful example of green living by making use of the underground space for flood prevention and the ground for building recreational facilities in a green area.

     Another officiating guest, the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong, said that the groundwater and rainwater harvesting system under the Scheme is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. It can provide about 220 000 cubic metres of non-potable water annually to the facilities of the Happy Valley Recreation Ground for flushing, washing and irrigation. In 2014, the project was awarded a platinum rating in the BEAM Plus' Provisional Assessment for new buildings in recognition of its remarkable achievement.

     Totalling about $1.07 billion, construction works for the Scheme commenced in September 2012 for the building of a stormwater storage tank underneath the Happy Valley Recreation Ground with a capacity of 60 000 cubic metres, which is equivalent to the total volume of about 24 standard swimming pools. It will serve as a temporary storage tank for stormwater runoff collected during heavy rainstorms in a bid to relieve the discharge load of the downstream drainage system and thereby alleviate flooding risks.

     The Scheme was implemented in two phases and the first phase was commissioned in March 2015. During the black rainstorm in October 2016, the facilities came into full play in preventing the Happy Valley Recreation Ground and the Racecourse from being flooded.

     Other officiating guests of the ceremony included the Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma; Member of the Legislative Council, Dr Lo Wai-kwok; and the Chairman of the Wan Chai District Council, Mr Stephen Ng.

Ends/Thursday, March 16, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:42

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Photo

The Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong, speaks at the commissioning ceremony of the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme in Happy Valley today (March 16).

The interior of the Happy Valley underground stormwater storage tank.

The Happy Valley Recreation Ground, which was renovated by the Drainage Services Department following the completion of the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaks at the commissioning ceremony of the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme today (March 16).

Pictured from left, the Deputy Chairman of Chun Wo Development Holdings Limited, Dr Derrick Pang; the Chairman of the Wan Chai District Council, Mr Stephen Ng; the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma; Member of the Legislative Council Dr Lo Wai-kwok; and the Director of Property of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Philip Chen, officiate at the commissioning ceremony of the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme today (March 16).

Accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma (third right), and the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong (third left), the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (second right), receives a briefing from an engineer of the Drainage Services Department on the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme in Happy Valley today (March 16).