SDC Paper No. 5/2021 Annex 1

Annex 1 Hong Kong 12 February 2021 Mr. Lo Kin Hei Chairman Southern District Council Re: The Pok Fu Lam Conduit – Heritage status and improvement works Dear Chairman, We hope to raise an agenda item regarding the ‘Pok Fu Lam Conduit’ at the 8th SDC (2020- 2023) meeting scheduled at 2:30pm on 11 March 2021. Background The Pok Fu Lam Conduit was built between the Pokfulam Reservoir and the Albany Tanks during 1876 and 1877. It improved the supply of water to the City of Victoria. In 2004, based on Appraisal 429, Grade 2 Historic status was awarded to the No. 9 aqueduct of the Pok Fu Lam Conduit. Aspects of the conduit between the filter beds at west point (where the staff quarters and manager’s bungalow of the filter beds are now used as the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre) and the Albany tanks above Garden Road are hard to find. Part of Tank 2 is present at the corner of Caine, Bonham, Seymour and Hospital Road. The conduit was terminated at the filter beds in its early years and with construction of Conduit Road the alignment of that section disappeared from maps early last century. Between the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and the former filter beds much of the conduit is present, and parts are still used for water supply. Of the 32 aqueducts bridging over ravines and gullies our survey found 16 to be present (8 in the Southern District, 8 in the Central and Western District): 1. Aqueducts No. 1 – 4 have been lost during construction of HKU properties (High West and Alberose). However, sections of the conduit and the signature covers are still present. 2. A set of stairs next to Pok Fu Lam Road 138 allows public access to the conduit from where one can walk over aqueducts No 5, 6, 7, 8, and No. 9 to Queen Mary Hospital. 3. Aqueducts 10 – 17 have been lost with various developments of the Queen Mary Hospital. Sections of the conduit including its chiselled granite covers are still visible within the southern part of the hospital site. 4. A set of stairs north of the hospital gives access to the conduit. The Pik Shan Trail which runs on top is popular with hikers and ends at the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre near Kotewall Road. Aqueducts numbered 23, 26, 28 and 31 were lost due to land slips or otherwise washed out. Aqueducts 18, 19, 20 are present in the Southern District. 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, and 32 are present in the Central and Western District. Large sections of the conduit and the covers are present in their original state. Call for review of Appraisal 429 and improvement works for the Pok Fu Lam Conduit Based on the above, we seek support from Government as follows: 1. To review Appraisal 429 and to recognise the entire conduit (and not just aqueduct No. 9) together with all remaining features including the aqueducts, the conduit itself, the granite covers, the gauge basin at the reservoir out-take and the tunnel under Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road for heritage grading, monument status, and protection and enhancement as a whole. (Development Bureau; Water Supplies Department; Antiquities and Monuments Office). 2. To develop guidelines for works and development near and along the conduit so as to protect and enhance the conduit. (Development Bureau; Water Supplies Department; Antiquities and Monuments Office; Home Affairs Department). 3. Implement works to allow access for the public to appraise and enjoy the conduit and all its various features as much as practically possible, including improvements such as repairs of the stairs leading to the conduit at Pok Fu Lam Road 138, and to reorganise utilities and infrastructure surrounding the conduit at various locations. (Development Bureau; Water Supplies Department; Antiquities and Monuments Office; Home Affairs Department). 4. To post signs along the entire conduit with historical information at relevant points including at each entrance and at each aqueduct. (Development Bureau; Water Supplies Department; Antiquities and Monuments Office). 5. To coordinate the above as needed between the Southern District Council, the Central and Western District Council, the Southern District Office, the Central and Western District Office, as well as all the relevant Bureaus and Departments. As and where clarity is needed, to seek advice from the Office of the Chief Secretary for Administration as to who is responsible to lead the above initiative as a whole or separately as is deemed most efficient. (Home Affairs Bureau; Development Bureau) Yours sincerely, Paul Zimmerman Andrew Lam Vice-Chairman, District Councillor Southern District Council Southern District Council Enclosed: Summary with maps, information, and photographs from a recent survey of the accessible sections of the conduit and the 16 remaining aqueducts between the reservoir and the filter beds. .

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