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SECTION
3 NATURAL RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
| 3.4 |
Freshwater
Resources |
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| 3.4.3 |
Sustainability
Appraisal |
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| 3.4.3.1 |
Despite
the protection of extensive areas of Hong
Kong's land areas as water catchments and
reservoirs, local sources only supply approximately
one quarter of the total freshwater demand.
Nevertheless this water and water infrastructure
play an important role in maintaining a
limited degree of self sufficiency for Hong
Kong. Reliance on internal water resources
is particularly important in maintaining
Hong Kong's security of supply during the
annual shutdown of the Mainland supply system
for maintenance every December.
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| 3.4.3.2 |
Hong
Kong sources could become even more important
in the event of a drought. According to
earlier agreements between Hong Kong and
the Mainland, the quantity of freshwater
supplied by the Mainland could be reduced
if rainfall dropped below a certain level
and this reduction was invoked in 1963 (WSD
2000). During the extremely dry year of
1981, water was rationed and supplies were
limited to a ten hour period each day. Although
in recent years the Guangdong Provincial
Government has pledged to do its best to
provide more water to Hong Kong if so required
(WSD 2000), water resources are likely to
be strained if severe drought conditions
occur again.
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| 3.4.3.3 |
The
existing regulatory system of protection for
Hong Kong's water gathering grounds is sound,
and in conjunction with recent initiatives
to improve yields from catchment areas should
maintain local supplies at their current level
(assuming normal rainfall patterns). Sources
in the Mainland are arguably not as strongly
protected, and may require more funding than
the portion of water revenues the Guangdong
government is currently investing. The importance
of regional co-operation through bodies such
as the recently announced Joint Working Group
on Sustainable Development and Environmental
Protection can be particularly advantageous
on this issue. |
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| 3.4.3.4 |
A
variety of measures are available to maximise
the potential of both locally-derived and
Mainland-derived freshwater sources. Means
of upgrading the efficiency of freshwater
delivery to that achieved in other countries
such as Japan should be pursued and targets
set to reduce losses over a 5-10 year period.
WSD's watermain replacement project will provide
further assurance that supplies are being
used efficiently. Alternatives to freshwater
should also be implemented wherever practical:
in addition to the seawater flushing supply
discussed above, industrial "greywater"
re-use and other water recycling opportunities
should be incentivised. In advance of any
future water shortages, demand for freshwater
can be minimised by public education on the
importance of conservation. Developing and
implementing a government policy on water
conservation could spearhead a public awareness
and education campaign. These efforts would
serve not only to reduce pressure on freshwater
resources, but also decrease the quantity
of wastewater generated and treated bringing
environmental and economic benefits. |
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| 3.4.3.5 |
As
discussed for many of the other natural resource
capital stock issues, the freshwater demands
of Hong Kong already exceed the capacity of
internal production sources. While this has
been the case for several decades, this should
not encourage complacency. Development and
pollution impacts threaten the Mainland supply
of freshwater, and competition from other
cities within Guangdong may be a significant
issue in the negotiation of the next water
supply agreement. Therefore, while some of
the key issues in maintaining a secure supply
of freshwater lie outside of Hong Kong's direct
control, resources should be directed toward
maintaining Hong Kong's own sources, improving
efficiency of delivery, reducing demand through
education and policy, and assisting the Mainland
with water resources management through joint
liaison groups and other bodies. |
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| 3.4.3.6 |
A summary of key sustainability issues for
freshwater resources capital stock is provided
in Figure 3.4a. |
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