Safe situation:
Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says the water system at Tamar is safe.
Tamar water system safe
January 09, 2012
The concentration of Legionella bacteria in the water system of the Government's new headquarters at Tamar is acceptable and safer than many other places.
This was the message from microbiology expert Prof Yuen Kwok-yung.
In a press conference today, Prof Yuen said only one of the 227 DNA checks on water samples taken at Tamar tested positive for the bacteria, adding the count of 0.128% of bacteria per millilitre is a very low figure.
"When the water flow in the Tamar complex is low, especially in the initial phase of the office moving in, then the bacteria multiply to a higher level," he said, adding the bacteria will be killed in places where the temperature is above 60 degrees Celsius.
Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow said the Legionella bacteria situation at Tamar is safe. Eighteen water samples collected before disinfection work at the facility tested positive for the bacteria.
Five other samples, taken before disinfection started, have since also recorded positive results. They were taken from the offices of the Chief Secretary, the Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, and the male, female and disabled bathrooms on the 10th floor of the East Wing.
The Centre for Health Protection has collected post-disinfection water samples and the results are due on January 18.
Dr Chow reiterated the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water system could not be attributed to a fast move into the Tamar facility.
