Welcome Speech By Ir Edwin TONG Ka-hung, D of DS DSD R&D Forum 2017 (14 November 2017, 9:15am – 9:20am) Theme: Smart, Green and Resilient Wastewater Management (am) and Smart, Green and Resilient Stormwater Management (pm) Mr. Donald Tong, distinguished speakers, honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen, 1. Good Morning! It is with great pleasure to welcome you all to DSD R&D Forum 2017. With 2. your continuous support, this forum has flourished in the past twelve years and is now one of DSD’s renowned events. Echoing the Hong Kong 2030+ promulgation of a “Smart, Green and Resilient” 3. strategy, we have set our forum’s theme this year to Smart, Green and Resilient Wastewater and Stormwater Management. “Smart, Green and Resilient”, or SGR in short, has become a subject of topical interest in recent years. Now, what do the three words “Smart, Green and Resilient” mean? 4. You will call a baby Einstein “Smart”, right? How about “Green”? The colour of corn fields is certainly green. For “Resilient”? You may immediately think of water as it can take any form or shape. Surfing the internet, the Wikipedia tells us that SGR refers to, and I quote: “… a 5. planning approach that aims to enable pragmatic concerns to be addressed simultaneously with major environmental issues and to structure long-term resilience in urban planning strategies, masterplans and sustainability frameworks ...” . The SGR strategy has three core elements that pertain to its outer layers. They are, “People Oriented”, “Contemporary Relevance” and “Future-Proofing”. In the provision of world class wastewater and stormwater services, our aspirations are bold. We will implement an SGR strategy, shell and core, to lead us there. Take for instance, our future Shek Wu Hui Effluent Polishing Plant. We will 6. deploy advanced compact technologies to double its existing capacity and raise it to tertiary standards. To stamp our plant with future-proofing capabilities, we are Page 1 of 3
actively interacting with experts to build in flexibility in our design so that it can embrace the novel innovations of tomorrow. Next, we will weave people- oriented components into the fabric of our plant. For example, the plant’s emergency vehicular access will be open for public use as a river promenade. Linking the plant’s rooftop by a skywalk will connect the public to our plant and beyond. True, our wastewater treatment facilities consume energy but over the years we have installed bio-gas fueled generators and PV installations to harvest renewable energy. In the immediate years ahead, we will take on another 90 million dollars of renewable energy projects that ride on new generations of technology. Future-proofing our renewable energy plan, we will blaze a trail on our energy roadmap. For instance, we are collaborating with the Environmental Protection Department to construct a co-digestion pilot trial in Tai Po to co-treat 50-tonnes of food waste and sludge. For our drainage facilities, our efforts and ambitions are an equal match. The Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme is an engineering masterpiece that fused contemporary relevance, people-oriented elements and the neighbourhood. Shrouded under five football pitches, is a stormwater storage chamber with smart controls that regulate the rate of runoff being stored. What’s more, the scheme completes the water cycle. Groundwater and rainwater collected from the pitch drains are reclaimed for irrigation and toilet flushing. Drainage facilities and nature are deemed by many as polar opposites. Yet, with 7. innovation applied deftly using contemporary relevance and people oriented strokes, we can portray the two opposites harmoniously on the same page. Like our Tsui Ping River Revitalisation Project, we will re-sculpt the 50-year old King Yip Street Nullah in Kwun Tong to improve its flood protection performance. At the same time, we will incorporate advanced water retention systems to remove pollutants and revitalize the water bodies. Livening up this blue green ambience with blooms, water cascades and bridges sets the scene for a water friendly culture and beckons the public with a warm welcome. Our application of innovations yesterday has given rise to our achievements today. 8. It is our sincere wish that with even wider interaction and collaboration with our R&D partners today, our success will soar to new heights tomorrow. Page 2 of 3
Today, it is our pleasure to have twelve distinguished speakers to bring forth new 9. dimensions to our inspiration; our inspiration for an SGR wastewater and stormwater management. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of you for making this Forum a success. 10. In particular, we are most honoured to have Mr. Donald TONG, the Permanent Secretary for Environment to deliver the keynote address for the morning session. Without further ado, please join me to give Mr. TONG a warm welcome. Page 3 of 3
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