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.
2001
	Full commissioning of Stage 1 of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.
	Commencement of an intensive two-year programme of environmental and engineering feasibility studies to decide the best way forward for the remaining stages of Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.
2002
	Commencement of the compact sewage treatment technology pilot plant trials.
	Commencement of the study on procurement options.
2003
	Completion of the compact sewage treatment technology pilot plant trials.
2004
	Completion of the environmental and engineering feasibility assessment studies.
	5-month public consultation on the way forward for HATS.
2005
	Announcement of the HATS Stage 2 Programme.
	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 to carry out major ground investigations for the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A awarded
	Completion of the study on procurement options.
2007
	Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A consultancy contract awarded
	Legislative Council upholds polluter-pays principle for sewage services
2008
	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.

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