For discussion PWSC(96-97)17
on 12 June 1996

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 709 - WATERWORKS
Water Supplies - Fresh water supplies
205WF - Integration of the North Point and Central cross harbour mains supply zones - remaining works

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -

1. the upgrading of part of 205WF, entitled "Integration of the North Point and Central cross harbour mains supply zones - remaining works - mainlaying in Lockhart Road" to Category A at an estimated cost of $63.2 million in money-of-the-day prices; and
2. the retention of the remainder of 205WF in Category B.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE
JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
LAND ACQUISITION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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PROBLEM

A failure in either the existing North Point cross harbour main or Central cross harbour main will affect the supply of fresh water to the areas served by the two respective mains of Hong Kong Island because there is no linkage between the two mains.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Water Supplies (DWS), with the support of the Secretary for Works, proposes to upgrade part of 205WF at an estimated cost of $63.2 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices to Category A for the laying of a fresh water-main in Lockhart Road to link up the North Point and the Central cross harbour mains.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The scope of works under 205WF comprises -

1. the laying of about 1.3 kilometres of fresh water trunk main of 1 000 millimetres in diameter in Lockhart Road between Fenwick Street and Canal Road East; and
2. the laying of about 1.2 kilometres of fresh water trunk main of 1 000 millimetres in diameter in Causeway Road, Gloucester Road, Great George Street, Fenwick Street and Harcourt Road.

4. We now propose to upgrade the works described in paragraph 3(a) above to Category A.

JUSTIFICATION

5. The Sha Tin treatment works supplies fresh water to the central, western and south-western parts of Hong Kong Island via the Central cross harbour main, and to North Point, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and the southern areas of Hong Kong Island via the North Point cross harbour main. At present, there is no connection between the two supply mains and water is not transferable between the two supply zones. In the event of failure in either the North Point cross harbour main or the Central cross harbour main, water supply to a large population on Hong Kong Island would be cut-off. In order to provide transfer flexibility and to improve the reliability of the water supply to these supply zones, DWS considers it necessary to install pipe links to connect the two pipelines on Hong Kong Island.

6. DWS, under 133WF, 135WF, 169WF and 210WF, has already laid part of the trunk main along King's Road, Causeway Road and Hennessy Road for connecting the North Point and the Central cross harbour mains. On completion of the proposed mainlaying works described in the paragraph 3(a) and (b) above in 1999, the two cross harbour mains will be linked up and water will be transferable between the two supply zones.

7. The Director of Highways (D of Hy) has undertaken to reconstruct a section of Lockhart Road in March 1997 under 552TH (part) "Reconstruction of Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling and Lockhart Road - section between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street". After the reconstruction of Lockhart Road, we will not permit road openings within five years. In order to integrate with the roadworks programme, we propose to advance the laying of the water-main described in paragraph 3(a) above by upgrading this part of the project. The road reconstruction contract will include the laying of the above water-main. We will tender the contract in December 1996.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

8. We estimate the capital cost of the project to be $63.2 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 9 below), made up as follows -

9. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -

10. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government's forecasts of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1996 to 2002. We will entrust the works to D of Hy under a standard re-measurement contract because of the presence of underground public utilities to which we will need to make certain design changes as works proceed. This form of contract provides for adjustments to the tender price due to inflation because the works will take longer than 21 months to complete.

11. We estimate that the proposed works will incur additional annually recurrent expenditure of $90,700.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

12. We consulted the Wan Chai District Board on 5 March 1996. Members of the Board generally had no objection to the mainlaying activities subject to relevant Government departments taking measures to ensure smooth vehicular traffic flow in Lockhart Road during the implementation of the works. We will incorporate relevant clauses in the contract to ensure that such measures will be taken.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

13. The Director of Environmental Protection completed an environmental review in November 1994 and advised that the project would have no major long term environmental impact. To control short term impacts during construction, we will incorporate in the contract relevant environmental protection control measures to abate noise, dust and site run-off.

LAND ACQUISITION

14. We do not require land for this project as the proposed trunk main will run along a public road.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

15. We upgraded this project to Category B in August 1995. DWS has completed the detailed design work for the part of the project we now propose to upgrade. We plan to start work under the roadworks contract in March 1997 for completion in December 1999.

16. DWS is currently carrying out detailed planning for the remaining works described in paragraph 3(b) above with a target start date in May 1997 for completion in early 1999.

(HH382)

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