March 14, 2022
The Subsidised Housing Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) endorsed today (Mar 14) the Drainage Enhancement Programme (DEP) for public rental housing flats and would launch the DEP in accordance with the new Practice Note relating to the above-ground drainage system issued by the Buildings Department last year, to enhance the original design standards. The HA estimated that the entire DEP will take about 2.5 years to complete.
The Drainage Inspection Programme (DIP) has been launched by the HA to inspect the communal drainage pipes of 1,575 public rental housing blocks since 2020. As of mid-February this year, about 41,000 flats had disconnected the vent pipes of HA standard water closets. We urged the HA to assist tenants reconnecting the vent pipes as soon as possible and prioritise the works according to the condition and design of the drainage system found in the DIP any record of spread of the epidemic in the public rental housing estates, composition of household members etc. in order to reduce the risk of vertical transmission and other safety hazards arising from old drainage systems.
In addition, the HA should conduct a comprehensive review on the design of the drainage system in public rental housing flats and raise the penalty for unauthorized alteration of pipes.
Media contact:
Chan Hok Fung 6099-3800 ( Legislative Council Member - Hong Kong Island West)