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Gov't hesitates on reservoir development plan

The Young Reporter (2004, February), 36(05), pp. 3.
Author: I'man Wong Siu-man. Editor: Grace Lam Hoi-yan.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0015334

By I ’man Wong Siu-man

02009412@hkbu.edu.hk

DISTRICT councillors, sports board and the tourism sector are urging the government to consider a plan for redeveloping local reservoirs.

As we rely on water supply from Guangdong in recent years, local reservoirs no more serve the active role of storing up rainwater for daily water supply. In a public consultation paper for Hong Kong 2030 Planning Vision and Strategy, people had expressed their interest in developing reservoirs for recreational use.

“The original use of reservoirs is storing rainwater, but Hong Kong people all drink Guangdong water now, these reservoirs just serve as an intermedium... If we can make good use of them, it can provide more recreational and sport facilities,” said Yeung Waising, an ex-Eastern district councilor.

Mr Yeung pointed out that overseas examples had proved the success of using reservoirs for water sports. “Many people worry that holding water sports on reservoirs would damage the environment and affect the water quality, but countries like Britain, the US and Singapore all show their accomplishments in organising this kind of sport,” he said, “The key is to have a well-developed plan with good management.”

As the public consultation period ended, the government set up a cross-board working group in which Home Affairs Department (HAD), Water Supplies Department (WSD), Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Planning Department and other related departments would conduct research on the feasibility of developing Pok Fu Lam Reservoir into a water sports centre as a pilot scheme.

“The working group started its research last year, they are currently studying the possibility and the economic productivity of Pok Fu Lam Reservoir as a water sports ground,” HAD Information Officer Heidi Liu Pui-yin said.

Ms Liu said the main concerns of the research are safety matters, the future operation and water quality of the reservoir.

“Those reservoirs in Hong Kong are still actively in use, they are for storage of Guangdong water, so we must consider the quality of water if we open them for recreation,” responded Mrs Ma, a Public Relations officer of WSD.

Despite the water quality issue, the government has to consider many other factors before trying out the Pok Fu Lam pilot scheme.

“Last July, we discovered that Pok Fu Lam Reservoir is too small and narrow. Also, it's too quiet and the slope is too steep, which makes the reservoir an unsuitable location for a water sports centre... It's Water Supplies Department, not HAD, chose Pokfulam as a pilot spot,” said Mr Charles Chu Fok-wing, Chief Leisure Manager of HAD. “Yet we didn't give up the plan, we are still studying that.”

“Government reaction is too slow, too bureaucratic,” Yeung criticised,“Development must be carried out, the only problem is management. So we must find one reservoir to try it out.”

“We have to consider many factors, like electricity-supply, the landscape and possibility of accidents. We need to think about the demand too, is there capacity for more (recreational facilities in Hong Kong) ?” questioned Mr Chu.

Wong Nai Chung Reservoir, the first reservoir developed for recreational use, was opened in 1986. According to staffers of the park, there was demand for these types of recreational facilities. “Many people visited this park during the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), just because we've fresh air here,” said Wong Yan-pang, an operator of Wong Nai Chung Reservoir.

Echoing to the call of turning reservoirs into recreational uses, there were actually voices demanding for more facilities besides water sports center.

“Reservoir walks and trails are possible, it may help the local travel industry,” said Joseph Tung, Executive Director of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

According to Hong Kong Eco Tourism Society (ETS), an organization that has been running environmental study tours for more than five years, hiking had already become a popular activity among urban dwellers in the city in the past eight to ten years. “Reservoirs can serve as another theme trail for local travel, people can do more exercise and know more about the natural environment,” said Alexander Yan, Executive Director of the group, who supported a development plan.

“Government needs to 'create' environment to attract people. People now demand high quality leisure activities like hiking and boat-rowing, not merely basketball-playing,” said Mr Yeung.

However, the cross-board working group said it had no intention to consider developing reservoirs as parks or walking trails. Their focus was now on water sport centre only. “We did think about a variety of choices. We did talk about trails, but we are currently still focusing on activities on the water area,” said HAD’s Mr Chu.

He said the government did not want to invest too many resources in reservoir development, so they had to think about, in the first place, whether any contractor would be willing to take up the daily operation of the recreational facility in the future.

“Would it be profitable? It’s our concern,” said Mr Chu.

Edited by Grace Lam Hoi-yan

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