Anthony Cheung (inset) said Tuesday that water samples from two residential buildings in Kwai Chung were found to have excessive levels of lead, adding to the contamination scare in the city. Photos: HKEJ
Water samples from Kwai Luen Estate also reveal excessive lead
Some water samples collected from Kwai Luen Estate in Kwai Chung were found to have excessive levels of lead, a top government official said on Tuesday.
Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Secretary for Transport and Housing, revealed that five samples out of a total of 44 collected from two buildings at Kwai Luen Estate Phase Two had lead levels that exceeded the World Health Organization standard.
About 1,500 families live in the buildings where the water samples were found tainted.
Meanwhile, a water sample taken from a vacant flat at the fourth block of Shui Tsuen O Estate was also found to contain excessive lead, Chueng said, according to Radio Television Hong Kong.
The official said it is possible that the contamination may have been caused by welding joints on pipe fittings.
Authorities will conduct further studies to trace the source of the contamination, Cheung said.
The government is deeply concerned about the matter, and fully understands the worries of residents, he said.
The latest comments came a few days after authorities admitted that excessive levels of lead were found in tap water in Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City.
Cheung said on Tuesday that temporary water supply systems are now in place for residents of Kai Ching Estate, which is home to around 5,000 families.
Legislator Helena Wong Pik-wan said of the 25 water samples collected by the Democratic Party from Kwai Luen Estate, seven were found to be lead-tainted.
One sample was found to have contained 62mg of lead, which is five times the World Health Organization’s 10mg ceiling, Wong said.
She urged Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to set up a committee and launch an in-depth investigation on the water contamination scare.
In the meantime, authorities must send water trucks to Kwai Luen Estate to ensure safe supplies, Wong added.
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