Much has already been achieved through the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.
The full commissioning of Stage 1 of the HATS at the end of 2001 was a
major milestone in the improvement of Hong Kong's sewage management. But
more needs to be done.
The following achievements and events have been significant in both the development of measures to protect the Harbour's marine environment and the development of the HATS project to date.
1980
Enactment of the Water Pollution Control
Ordinance to provide statutory powers for the control of effluents
discharged to the aquatic environment.
1987
Commencement of the Sewerage Master Plan
programme to improve local area sewerage systems.
1989
Formulation of the Strategic Sewage Disposal
Scheme for Hong Kong.
1994
Enactment of the Water Pollution Control
(Sewerage) Regulation to require the connection of wastewater from
premises to the public sewerage system and the proper maintenance
and operation of private wastewater treatment facilities.
Declaration of the Victoria Harbour (Phase
I) Water Control Zone.
Commencement of work on construction
of Stage 1 of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.
1995
Declaration of the Victoria Harbour (Phase
II) Water Control Zone.
1996
Declaration of Victoria Harbour (Phase
III) Water Control Zone - bringing the whole territory under water
pollution control.
1997
Commissioning of a new chemically-enhanced
primary sewage treatment plant at Stonecutters Island, as part
of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.
1998
Commissioning of a study to investigate
the feasibility of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme Stage III/IV.
2000
Presentation of findings and recommendations
by the International Review Panel on the future of the Harbour Area
Treatment Scheme.
Award of the EIA
Study contract for the provision of disinfection facilities at
Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works.
LegCo's Finance Committee approves funding for the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A - Environmental
impact assessment, investigations, tunnel conveyance system design.
2006
Contract
to carry out the investigation, design and construction stage services
for the sewage conveyance system of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme
(HATS) Stage 2A is awarded.
Contract
to carry out an environmental
impact assessment (EIA) study for the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme
(HATS) Stage 2A awarded.
Contract awarded for construction of disinfection facilities at Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works.
The consultancy study, entitled “Co-use of land by the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2B biological treatment plant and other facilities on Stonecutters Island – Feasibility Study” commenced in May.
2009
In June, Finance Committee of LegCo has approved the funding of the HATS 2A sewage conveyance system and advance works for upgrading of Stonecutters Island sewage treatment works.
Drainage Services Department has so far awarded five contracts of the HATS 2A project. These include the main sewage tunnel contracts, one advance works contract and one E&M contract.
In April, the Finance Committee of LegCo has approved the funding for the upgrading of Stonecutters Island sewage treatment works and eight associated preliminary treatment works on Hong Kong Island. All works items for the HATS Stage 2A project have now been funded.
