Advisory Committee on Water Supplies Concludes Visit to Dongjiang Water Supply System

Advisory Committee on Water Supplies concludes visit to Dongjiang Water Supply System

The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies:

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang (DJ) Water Supply System today (November 5). With the fruitful visit, ACWS members considered that the DJ Water Supply System is well managed and modernised with the latest technologies, and that the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong is of good quality.

The delegation visited the Taiyuan Pumping Station and the Qiling Aqueduct in Dongguan this morning, and the Shenzhen Reservoir and the adjacent Environmental Water Quality Monitoring Centre in Shenzhen this afternoon. The Committee members learned that the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong is extracted at the Taiyuan Pumping Station and conveyed via a dedicated aqueduct to the Shenzhen Reservoir before being transmitted to Hong Kong, ensuring that the DJ water remains unaffected by developments in the cities along the transmission route. During the visit, members exchanged views with relevant Guangdong authorities on the DJ water quality monitoring system and technologies, expressing satisfaction with the comprehensive water quality monitoring system and advanced testing capabilities.

The delegation also took the opportunity to visit the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project Exhibition Hall next to the Shenzhen Reservoir. The Hall, recently renovated, utilises multimedia facilities to showcase the history and development of the DJ water supply to Hong Kong. A member remarked that the exhibition was informative and impactful, helping the public and students appreciate the country's support and care for Hong Kong through the DJ water supply.

Before the conclusion of the visit, the delegation met with local government officials to exchange views on issues relating to the operation of the DJ Water Supply System. In concluding the visit, the Chairman of the ACWS, Mr Edmund Leung, remarked that the two-day visit was substantive and diversified, covering several major operational points of the DJ Water Supply System and giving members an insight into the actual situation of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong. He also noted that the Guangdong authorities have invested substantial resources over the years to safeguard the quantity and quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong, and have introduced a variety of advanced technologies to achieve stringent monitoring, intelligent prediction-making abilities and rapid responses to various potential risks, thereby ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality and reliable DJ water to Hong Kong. This fully demonstrates the rigorous attitude and effectiveness of the Guangdong side in managing the DJ Water Supply System.

The terms of reference of the ACWS are to advise the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the Director of Water Supplies on matters relating to water supplies, including water resources, network management, regulation and control of inside services, water conservation and other operational matters. Its membership comprises academics, green advocates, professionals, representatives from the trade, and officials from related government departments and bureaux.

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang Water Supply System today (November 5). Photo shows the Chairman of the ACWS, Mr Edmund Leung (second right), the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong (first right), and ACWS members meeting with local government officials this afternoon. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang Water Supply System today (November 5). Photo shows the Chairman of the ACWS, Mr Edmund Leung (first left); the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong (second right); and ACWS members Ms Polly Chan (second left) and Ms Apple Lai (first right) visiting the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project Exhibition Hall next to the Shenzhen Reservoir this afternoon. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang Water Supply System today (November 5). Photo shows ACWS members Professor Gilman Siu (first left), Professor Michael Leung (centre), Mr Harry Lai (second right), and Professor Louis Lock (first right) learning about the applications of AI to enhance the efficiency of the water quality monitoring system in the Environmental Water Quality Monitoring Centre this afternoon. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang Water Supply System today (November 5). Photo shows the Chairman of the ACWS, Mr Edmund Leung (second right), the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong (third right), and ACWS members inspecting the water quality of the dedicated aqueduct at the Qiling Aqueduct in Dongguan this morning. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) concluded a two-day visit to the Dongjiang Water Supply System today (November 5). Photo shows the Chairman of the ACWS, Mr Edmund Leung (seventh right), the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong (eighth right), and ACWS members at the Taiyuan Pumping Station in Dongguan. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs takes territory-wide law enforcement actions against illicit cigarette selling points

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts in Hong Kong since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested.

Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation. It has also been staying alert to recent reports indicating that some retail points are selling illicit cigarettes, as well as "cheap whites" priced below the level of statutory duty. Customs is highly concerned about the situation and promptly met with relevant parties to gather information, upon which they conducted an investigation and prepared for the operation.

During the operation, Customs officers disguised as customers and conducted test buys at different cigarette retail points, including newsstands, grocery shops and hawker stalls. Some retail points were found to offer cigarettes for sale at a price less than the statutory duty imposed thereon. As at today (November 5), Customs has taken prompt enforcement actions against seven cigarette retail points in Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po, Tsuen Wan, Shau Kei Wan, Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong, and arrested the shop owners and staff. Ten persons, comprising five men and five women aged between 43 and 90, were arrested.

The operation is ongoing in different districts. If newsstands and retail shops are involved in offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes, Customs will take prompt enforcement actions and will notify relevant departments for follow-up actions on matters related to leases and licences after the conclusion of court proceedings.

Customs reminds cigarette retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources and stay alert to cigarettes supplied at a price less than the statutory duty. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), if a cigarette is offered for sale or supply at a consideration the value of which is less than the rate of duty imposed on the cigarette, the cigarette is dutiable goods. In addition, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested. Photo shows one of the cigarette retail points connected with the cases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested. Photo shows one of the cigarette retail points connected with the cases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases