The High Island Reservoir, located in the far south eastern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula, was opened in 1978 helping to alleviate water shortage problems in Hong Kong. Its water capacity is approximately 273 million cubic metres. The area it occupies was originally the Kwun Mun Channel (), which separated High Island from the Sai Kung Peninsula.

History

Its history starts as a result of the water shutdown by mainland China during the Hong Kong 1967 riots, the government responded with the High Island Reservoir. It was expected to be the same size as Plover Cove Reservoir. The construction, contracted by an Italian company cost more than .Mody, Ashoka. 997(1997). Infrastructure Strategies in East Asia: “The ”Untold Story". World Bank Publications. There is a memorial next to the East Dam dedicated to five workers who lost their lives during the project's construction.

Design

The reservoir was designed by Binnie & Partners as a part of the High Island Water Scheme which included pipeworks and other supporting infrastructure as well as the reservoir itself. The reservoir was created by constructing two main dams. One was built at the west of High Island connecting it with the Sai Kung Peninsula at Yuen Ng Fan (). The other was built in the southeast of High Island, connecting it with the Sai Kung Peninsula near Po Pin Chau, a stack island. Three smaller dams were also constructed in valleys around the reservoir. Aqueducts totalling 5 miles in length were also constructed to transfer water from

streams A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...

around Sai Kung

Peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...

to the reservoir. Construction spanned 10 years from 1969 to 1979. Two roads were created as part of the scheme, crossing over the dams. This enabled visitors to access a very remote and unspoilt area for recreation. Many of the techniques and technology used, like grouting, was cutting edge at the time. Near high island reservoir land for refugees chingming06

Near high island reservoir land for refugees chingming06

References

External links

High Island Reservoir

{{Reservoirs of Hong Kong Reservoirs in Hong Kong Sai Kung Peninsula Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark

History

Design

See also

References

External links