Secretary for Environment Visits Waterfront Areas to Assess Progress on Victoria Harbour Water Quality Improvements

SEE inspects progress of improving odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, visited the waterfront areas of To Kwa Wan, Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai today (September 30) to learn about the progress for improving the quality and odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters.

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse, and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, Mr Tse visited Cheung Sha Wan waterfront and was briefed by officers of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on the conditions of sewer misconnections and the progress of rectification works. They also visited the odour-monitoring device installed at the waterfront to learn about the collection of odour data in real time and the innovative technologies and equipment in identifying pollution sources.

Mr Tse was pleased to learn that the odour problem close to the waterfront had substantially improved and the overall pollution load in priority districts including Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City had been reduced by about 80 per cent, exceeding the target set in the 2022 Policy Address of reducing the pollution load at identified outfalls emanating stench in specific districts by half before end-2024.

Mr Tse then inspected the bioremediation works carried out by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) at To Kwa Wan Typhoon Shelter, which can speed up the removal of organic pollution in the sediment and facilitate the elimination of the sediment's odour, thereby further ameliorating coastal odour problems. Finally, Mr Tse went to the waterfront areas of Wan Chai to learn about the various water quality improvement measures in the area, where triathlon events for the 15th National Games will be hosted in 2025.

Mr Tse said, "With the progressive implementation of a series of water quality improvement measures by the Government, the water quality and odour problems along the waterfront areas have significantly improved. We will continue to closely monitor the coastal water quality and odour problem, and proactively rectify the remaining sewer misconnection cases to further improve the near-shore residual odour and water quality in the districts and thereby provide a fresh and pleasant environment to promote water-friendly culture and activities along waterfront areas."

To address the odour problems along the coastal areas of Victoria Harbour, the EPD, in collaboration with other relevant government departments such as the Buildings Department and the Drainage Services Department, will trace major pollution sources in stormwater drainage systems to rectify sewer misconnection cases to intercept pollutants at source from entering the harbour, thereby improving the near-shore environment. In parallel, the CEDD has adopted dredging and bioremediation technologies to remove polluted and exposed sediments to further improve the near-shore water quality and the environment in priority areas.

SEE inspects progress of improving odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects progress of improving odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects progress of improving odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE inspects progress of improving odour of Victoria Harbour's coastal waters Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 1) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

"The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

"Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

The public should adopt the following precautions:

Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;

Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;

Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;

For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;

Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

​The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):

Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;

Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;

Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;

Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and

While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

​If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

​The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111),heat strokepage andUV radiationpage; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.