The new Western Service Reservoirs were handed over by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to the Water Supplies Department (WSD) in a ceremony held on the roof of one of the freshwater reservoirs on December 14, 2009.

The move signifies a new chapter of partnership between the University and the WSD. For the Centennial Campus to be developed, HKU undertook the re-provisioning of freshwater and saltwater storage facilities of the Western Service Reservoirs for the Department. The works commenced in April 2007 and took two and a half years to complete, at a cost of HK$500 million.

An innovative and environmentally-friendly method to house two saltwater reservoirs in a rock cavern was adopted in the construction, which was also the first of its kind for water storage in Hong Kong. The cavern was excavated using a non-explosive drill-and-break tunneling method to minimize the disturbance caused to the environment and nearby residents.

At the ceremony, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “I am pleased to say that the construction of the Centennial Campus has just begun, after the completion of the reservoir works. In another two and a half years, the campus will be ready for the implementation of our new four-year curriculum in 2012. It also marks a new chapter for HKU as it enters its second century.”

Mr. Ma Lee Tak, JP, Director of Water Supplies, said: “TheWestern Service Reservoirs serve more than 120,000 people in the Central, Western and Peak areas. The cavern reservoir has utilised the underground space without disturbing the natural vegetation above or causing visual impacts to the neighbourhood.”

At the end of the ceremony, Professor John Malpas, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, introduced to participating guests the future Centennial Campus and highlighted the key features of the campus including the three Faculty Buildings, the Academic Courtyards, and the University Street. The roof of the two freshwater reservoirs, with an area of 4,000 square metres, will become a landscaped garden with more than a hundred trees. All the saltwater reservoirs and freshwater reservoirs are already in operation for the residents of the Central and Western District.