Following is a transcript of the Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao's meet-the-media session after speaking at a seminar today (April 19):
Reporter : Dr Liao, you mentioned about the results of the feasibility study of the public private partnership of Sha Tin Water Treatment Works, can you give us more details....?
Dr Liao : The positive side is that it is a comparatively simple management and organisation structure to deal with because we are only talking about altogether under 100 employees in an organisation of 5,000 people. So the deployment of staff is quite an easy task. The delivery of water in terms of treatment is a very isolated part of the whole process. It doesn't involve so many parts. Of course, as I was saying, we need to use this as an initiative and look into the entire water distribution and supplies system.
Reporter : But how can you ensure water quality and also other factors that would ....?
Dr Liao : It is most important that we have to have very stringent performance specifications as with all BOT involving public service. This is something of the primary and most important requirement. This can be ensured with the proper system of treatment, monitoring and auditing. This is all in a whole package and is well experienced in the international community.
Reporter : You mentioned the decision will be concluded in the near future. How near will that be, in terms of months or weeks?
Dr Liao : It will be in terms of months.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)
End/Monday, April 19, 2004
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