Chief Executive CY Leung and Guangdong Governor Zhu Xiaodan today attended the Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony, and oversaw the signing of an extension to the water deal.
Secretary for Development Paul Chan and Guangdong Water Resources Department Director-General Lin Xudian signed the agreement to extend Dongjiang water supply until 2017.
To solve Hong Kong's long-term water supply problem, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments agreed to implement the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme 50 years ago.
The scheme involved pumping water 80km from Dongjiang via the Shima River to the Muk Wu Pumping Station on the Hong Kong boundary.
The works took a year to complete and Dongjiang water was first delivered on March 1, 1965. Since then, Dongjiang water has supplied 70% to 80% of Hong Kong's total annual fresh water requirements.
The Water Supplies Department will hold a roving exhibition in various districts from June to September, outlining the history of Dongjiang water supply.
