HKPC, Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong and Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power join forces for WaterSafe Project in Sichuan

With the Sichuan earthquake nearing its third anniversary, people in some of the remote villages are still drinking untreated water which poses severe health risks. As a continuation of its WaterSafe Project, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), with sponsorship from The Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong, collaborates with the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power to deliver power-operated WaterSafe water purifying systems to primary schools in the region.

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “To help alleviate the problem of safe water supplies caused by damages to the infrastructure after the earthquake in 2008, professional consultants from HKPC leveraged their expertise in environmental management to develop a water purification system - ‘WaterSafe’. Utilizing advanced membrane ultrafiltration technologies used for the treatment of industrial sewage, the systems were then delivered to the affected areas with the help of HKPC Volunteers.”

“This year, with the support of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, we further the project by delivering four more power-operated WaterSafe systems to two primary schools in remote areas of Sichuan. We hope to replicate the collaboration with more voluntary groups and organizations in order to sustain the project,” she added.

Mr Stephen Lin, President of Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong, said, “Since its establishment in 1994, Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong is eyeing on the problem of clean water source in the Mainland. Learning the condition in the two schools, we together with our international partners - the Rotary Club of Sathorn (Thailand) and the Rotary Club of Taipei Chung Yuan, team up with HKPC and Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power to offer them the WaterSafe systems, making clean and safe water supplies available to their 1,700 students and teachers.”

“Apart from coordinating the liaison work, our Club is also responsible for fund raising, and monitoring the use of project funds and the progress. As our technical partner, HKPC oversees the production, transportation and installation of the systems. Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power will follow up with the future operation and maintenance; while our international partners will visit Sichuan to witness the completion of the project. We hope the project will not only provide clean water supplies to the schools concerned but also offer a blueprint solution for similar problems in the future.”

Dr Anthony Ma, Principal Consultant (Environmental Management) of HKPC who oversees the development of WaterSafe, said the advanced membrane technology could filter all bacteria, gastro-intestinal parasites, impurities, and up to 90 per cent of virus. The system is operational simply by connecting to household electricity. With each system being able to filter 800 litres of water per hour, if a school installs two systems and keeps them running for 10 hours a day, its need for clean water can be met.

At a briefing session today (6 May 2011), the ambassador on culture, arts and education development for Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, local artiste Miss Idy Chan, also shared her observation on the need for safe drinking water supplies during her visit to Sichuan. Mr Jason Chan, District Governor of the Rotary International District 3450, also attended the briefing session.

For information about the Project, please contact Mr Anderson Wong of HKPC Volunteers on tel. (852) 2788 5410 or email: klwong@hkpc.org. For information about the WaterSafe System, please contact Dr Anthony Ma of HKPC on tel. (852) 2788 5613 or email: anthonym@hkpc.org.

For other media enquiries, please contact HKPC’s Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

*         *         *

Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org


6 May 2011

(right to left) Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC; Mr Jason Chan, District Governor of the Rotary International District 3450; Mr Stephen Lin, President of Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong; and the ambassador on culture, arts and education development for Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, local artiste Miss Idy Chan, launched the WaterSafe water purifying system

Dr Anthony Ma, Principal Consultant (Environmental Management) of HKPC, presented the WaterSafe system