Hong Kong water safety scandal: what happened and how to protect yourself
Hong Kong's leader has rolled out 10 measures to address a freshwater contamination case involving banned substances dirtying the supply at two public housing estates.
Advertisement
The Post unpacks the water safety concerns behind the saga and how people can protect themselves.
1. What's the scandal about?
Residents at two public rental and subsidised estates in Fanling first reported the presence of black particles in their drinking water on Friday last week, prompting some to buy bottled water as speculation mounted over the source of the mysterious dark specks.
Government test results on Thursday confirmed that the particles found in the freshwater supply at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling were bitumen, a substance produced through the distillation of crude oil and known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties.
It has been banned from use in water pipes since 2005, but authorities have stressed that the water remains safe to consume.
A resident at Queens Hill Estate in Fanling buys bottled water following concerns over water safety. Photo: Nora Tam
The latest tests showed the bitumen was found to be mixed with resin, a thick substance typically produced by plants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
No time for daily exercise? Being a weekend warrior can have the same health benefits
To maintain good health, the World Health Organization recommends regular exercise – 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of the two, throughout the week. Advertisement Those too strapped for time or without the energy to exercise several times a week may prefer to exercise intensely at weekends, or two or three times a week. This 'weekend warrior' pattern of exercise can be just as beneficial for health as exercise that is spread out over the week, a recent study suggests. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, in the United States, wanted to learn if people who exercised 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week experienced greater benefits than those who went five or six days between longer exercise sessions. They found that concentrating moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in one to two days during the week was associated with a lower risk of developing more than 200 diseases – from cardiovascular and digestive conditions to mental health and neurological illnesses. I love Bear Camp because it works all your muscles. Over the years, I've become stronger and fitter and developed greater stamina Kimberly Kwok, Hong Kong mum and businesswoman, on her weekend workouts And it may be just as effective at decreasing risk as more evenly distributed exercise activity: both weekend warrior and regular physical activity patterns were associated with those substantially lower disease risks.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Write to Win (Round 5): Earth's gravity disappears for an hour every day. What should people do?
Read the responses to this week's Write to Win prompt and choose the answer you like most on this form. Hong Kong: If Earth's gravity were to magically disappear for an hour each day, hospitals should definitely prepare for a wave of people flooding in with injuries. To prepare, humans should stay indoors and have a well-padded area or a special bunker just for this no-gravity hour to prevent injuries from uncontrollable objects flying around. On top of that, humans should secure all their furniture and objects together so that these items do not become dangerous projectiles that could potentially make holes in walls or cause significant injuries. Lastly, humans should prepare fun things to do during this hour that do not involve physical movement, as gravity's disappearance would disrupt balance and blood circulation, potentially causing falls and fainting spells. Although losing gravity every day could be quite dangerous, I think it would be fun to be able to practically float around for an hour.
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Get elderly housing right and Hong Kong's silver economy can take off
Hong Kong's Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing has announced dozens of measures to promote the 'silver economy' and address the needs of the city's ageing population. These cover five main areas : boosting consumption, developing tailor-made products, promoting quality assurance of 'silver' products, strengthening financial and insurance protection, and encouraging older residents to re-enter the job market. These are all good intentions, but it also begs the question: where is the infrastructure needed to support the measures? An important part of this is suitable housing and a community that encourages ageing Hongkongers to live well and be productive for as long as they would like to be. In 2015, the Housing Society built The Tanner Hill development for aged living, offering world-class facilities. The flats are well-designed, with clever use of compact space, and come with safety measures like grab bars and anti-slip bathroom mats, plus access to user-supported cooking facilities. The premises include clinics offering both Western and Chinese medicines, a library, restaurant, swimming pool, gym and access to services like banking, plus seats in the common lifts. It would be a no-brainer to house outlets there to offer 'silver products' to this exclusive community. But what about those of less modest means? Perhaps we can consider a hybrid living model. Hong Kong could design such a housing estate in three parts. One section of flats could be fitted out with facilities aimed at independent living for senior residents. This would cater to those who want their privacy while maintaining access to medical support, including silver products and services as needed. NGOs could help.
