Bitumen-lined water pipe in Hong Kong to be replaced by early July: minister

The water pipe believed to have introduced black particles of bitumen into the freshwater supply at two public housing estates in Hong Kong last month will be replaced by early July, the development minister has pledged.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also said on Wednesday that authorities had completed more than 1,500 requests from residents at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling to flush their water meters within one to two days, and most people reported improvements in water quality and did not require follow-up.

The 400-metre (1,312-foot) section of the pipe lined with bitumen, located outside the estates and connected to their freshwater pipes, would be permanently decommissioned from early July and replaced by a temporary pipe.

She said the Water Supplies Department last week “adopted an unconventional mindset” and explored the use of exposed temporary pipe to replace the pipe in question, and formulated traffic arrangements near the construction site with various departments.

“Even though the relevant locations are busy with traffic and the construction site has limited space, the Water Supplies Department will immediately commence the construction after concerted efforts,” she told the Legislative Council.

“The department will conduct the construction around the clock. It is expected that the temporary pipe will be completed by early July, meaning that the bitumen-lined pipe will be decommissioned permanently from early July.”