Engaging the Community

Stakeholder Engagement Activities

Public Engagement for Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A Project

In order to promote HATS Stage 2A Project to the public, we devoted in public engagement throughout the year of 2012-13. Our key public engagement activities include:

• Newsletters were produced and distributed to the nearby stakeholders quarterly;
• Site visits were conducted throughout the year with local and overseas institutions including University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IME), The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), delegates of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Urban - Rural Development of China, Korea Study Tour, professors from Singapore, HKU Engineering Alumni Association (HKUEAA) and Shenzhen Officials, etc.;
• School talks on our Department's duties, details of HATS Stage 2A Project, flood prevention and sewage treatment were delivered;
• Volunteers from the HATS Stage 2A Sewage Conveyance System contracts continuously carried out community caring activities such as visiting elderly centers/homes and participating in charity sales of stakeholders;
• Media were invited to have a briefing and site visit to the site of Construction of Sewage Conveyance System from North Point to Stonecutters Island on 26 July 2012 to introduce a female Competent Supervisor for Blasting Works working in the project;
• Presentation was conducted in the Committee Meeting of District Development and Environment Committee, Southern District Council on 26 November 2012 to introduce the progress of Upgrading of PTWs at Sandy Bay, Cyberport, Wah Fu, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau;
• Members of Eastern and Wan Chai District Councils were invited to visit the site of Construction of Sewage Conveyance System from North Point to Stonecutters Island on 5 and 14 December 2012 respectively to brief them the progress of works including tunnel construction works;
• The Director of Drainage Services, the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), the Chairman of Sham Shui Po District Council and the senior management of the consultants and contractors participated in the completion ceremony of Provision of Covers and Deodourisation Facilities to the Existing Sedimentation Tanks at Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works held on 12 December 2012. A site visit was conducted for the members of Sham Shui Po District Council before the ceremony

2012 Jul

2012 Oct

2012 Dec

2013 Feb

2013 Mar

2013 May

Public Engagement for Kai Tak River Improvement Works

To engage the public on the planning of Kai Tak River, we conducted a two-stage public engagement exercise on "Building our Kai Tak River" in 2010 and 2011. Based on the outcome of the exercise, we are reconstructing and revitalising the existing Kai Tak River into an attractive green river and townscape feature to enhance its visual quality and image, in addition to its prime objective for flood protection.

To engage the participation of students of neighbouring schools, we launched a drawing competition in 2012 on the envisioned Kai Tak River. A total of 54 students from three primary schools participated in the competition and the winning drawings have been displayed on the site hoardings, giving a hand to visual enhancement of the project.

Public Engagement for Village Sewerage Works

In implementation of village sewerage works, we engage relevant stakeholders at the pre-construction, construction and completion stages of the projects.

Pre-construction stage

Prior to the construction works, our Department, together with Environmental Protection Department (EPD), consulted relevant District Councils, Rural Committees, Village Representatives and villagers. They were consulted of the proposed sewerage schemes, sewer alignment and the proposed locations of sewage pumping stations while the responsibilities of villagers after the completion of works, e.g. the connection works to the public sewerage system and payment of sewage services charges, were also introduced.

Construction stage

During construction, we liaised with the Village Representatives and villagers on the construction arrangements to minimise nuisance to them, and posted notices/signboards at the village access to indicate clearly the extent of works as well as the anticipated works period. We would agree with the house owners regarding the locations of terminal manholes. We also briefed the house owners for the connection works to the public sewerage system which they would be required to carry out in future.

Completion stage

When the sewerage works were close to completion, EPD, with our Department's assistance, visited each house in the village to understand their potential difficulties of the connection works. Our Department and EPD then held briefing sessions for all villagers to provide detailed explanation on the technicality and responsibility of the connection works required. After the briefing session, EPD would issue letters to the villagers requiring them to carry out the connection works within a specified period (typically 6 to 12 months) according to government's guidelines and specifications as well as the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation. Our Department and EPD would continue to liaise with the house owners and provide necessary assistance in the connection works during this time.

Public Engagement for Feasibility Study on Relocation of Shatin Sewage Treatment Works to Caverns

To work with the public and stakeholders together to optimise the relocation proposal, we conducted the Stage 1 public engagement exercise between November 2012 and March 2013.

The Stage 1 public engagement was kicked off by a media briefing at Stanley STW in early November 2012, and the media briefing received extensive media coverage. This was followed by a series of roving exhibitions at 16 venues and 12 community centres and community halls in Sha Tin and Ma On Shan areas to disseminate the information of the feasibility study. During the roving exhibitions, the public were invited to complete questionnaires to collect their views and concerns on the relocation proposal. They could also provide their comments and opinions via various channels including hotline, email, fax and mail.

To share the latest information and progress of the project with the public, we launched a project website (www.STSTWinCaverns.hk) and a facebook page (STSTWinCaverns) in November 2012. Also, we published two issues of newsletters in November 2012 and March 2013. Apart from uploading onto the project website, we distributed the newsletters to the residents in the vicinity of the proposed relocation site and the existing Shatin STW as well as other stakeholders. Publicity video was also broadcast in TV channels, Roadshow in buses and MTR trains and uploaded to the project website and Youtube.

To consult the residents in the vicinity of the proposed relocation site and existing Shatin STW as well as other stakeholders, three community group meetings were held in March 2013. A focus group meeting was also held in March 2013 to exchange views with the green groups and professional organisations. The Stage 2 public engagement exercise is tentatively scheduled to be carried out between July to October 2013. We will continue to work with the public and stakeholders together to further improve the relocation proposal.

Public Engagement for Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme

Our Department places great emphasis in communicating closely with stakeholders and the public under the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme (HVUSSS) project so that their views are taken into account in the course of delivering the project. We also aim to enhance the living environment for the community and to further strengthen its ties with the community while the project is being constructed. The engagement activities included connecting with the concern groups and schools in the Happy Valley area.

Connecting with the Concern Groups

Connecting with Schools

Meeting with District Councillors

To maintain close ties with the local community and ensure that public views are heard, we always attended District Council meetings over the years. In 2012-13, our Director and relevant colleagues were presented at different District Council meetings, including those of Sai Kung, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun, Tai Po and Yuen Long, to brief members on our work and major projects in their districts and to solicit their opinions.