*****************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
In response to press enquiries relating to the reports submitted by experts appointed by the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water (COI) today (February 5) which contained results of tests for lead in drinking water in public rental housing (PRH) estates, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) replied as follows:
Since the discovery of excess lead in drinking water in some PRH estates in July 2015, the Housing Department (HD) and Water Supplies Department (WSD) had started to conduct water sampling tests for PRH estates. The water sampling tests for all PRH estates were completed on November 18. Amongst them, excess lead was found in water samples taken from 11 PRH developments.
We have kept the public abreast of how the water sampling tests were conducted, and reported the progress and results of the tests, as well as of the follow-up measures taken in respect of the 11 PRH developments in which excess lead in drinking water was found (including providing temporary water supply, and requesting the main contractors concerned to connect pipes from the roof tank to individual floors for all blocks as well as to install water filters for households, etc.).
We have learnt about the reports of the two COI experts today, and will examine their findings in detail. We will continue to support the work of the COI, and keep in view its final report and findings. Meanwhile, we will continue with the follow-up work in connection with the 11 PRH developments with excess lead found in our water sampling tests, and will continue to keep the public informed of the developments.
Regarding the number of samples or samples that have not yet been made public, when HD and WSD conducted systematic water sampling tests for PRH estates in the past, individual water sampling results were not adopted for various reasons. For example, HD and WSD had found cases where water samples "with excess lead" were suspected of contamination during the sampling process, which led to deviation in the test results. Under these circumstances, more water samples had to be taken before the water quality of the estates concerned could be determined. If, after analysis, it was concluded that the water samples "with excess lead" had been affected by environmental factors, the samples would be discarded. For example, as explained in the past, one sample taken from a vacant unit at Hei Chuen House of Shui Chuen O Estate was found to have a lead level of 14 micrograms per litre, which slightly exceeded the World Health Organization's limit. The water samples taken from the other three domestic blocks in the same estate did not exceed the limit. WSD then took more water samples from Hei Chuen House for testing to ascertain the situation. After analysis, it was concluded that the water sample which exceeded the limit had been affected by environmental factors and should be discarded, and that no excess lead in water was found in Shui Chuen O Estate. Another example which we mentioned in the past is that, if it was discovered after samples had been taken that the fresh water supply systems inside the units were installed by the tenants themselves, the samples concerned would also be discarded.
In addition, as explained to the public previously, when HD and WSD conducted water sampling tests, while paying attention to the quality of drinking water supplied to domestic tenants, we had not neglected that supplied to the non-domestic tenants. In PRH developments of which the sampling test results had already been announced, some non-domestic facilities on the lower levels of the domestic blocks or in standalone buildings were fed by independent fresh water supply systems, and the sampling test results were also independent from that of the domestic portion. HD and WSD also took samples from these independent fresh water supply systems installed by the HA's main contractors in the common area. The number of these samples have only been finalised recently, and have not yet been included in the total number of samples announced. However, HA has separately notified the relevant non-domestic tenants of the sampling test results before the end of 2015.
Ends/Friday, February 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 23:12
NNNN