Water Supplies Department (WSD) together with nine associations, signed a Charter on Combating Unauthorised Water Uses on 22 March 2012, vowing to join forces against unlawful water tapping. They appealed to the public to report any related illegal practices.
The nine associations signing the Charter were the Hong Kong Construction Association, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, the Hong Kong Licensed Plumbers Association, the Hong Kong Institution of Plumbing and Drainage, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering - Hong Kong Branch, the Hong Kong Plumbing and Sanitary Ware Trade Association, the Resident Site Staff Association and the Hong Kong Water Works Professionals Association. The charter-signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Quality of Water Supplies, Professor Ho Kin-chung.
The associations pledged to call on their members to pay attention to any abnormalities in the water supply system during their daily work, and to be aware of the sources of water supply at construction sites; if they suspect any illegal plumbing connection, they should report it to the WSD. The associations will also disseminate the message of combating unauthorised water uses to their members, and remind them of strict compliance with their professional codes. Relevant information will be provided to help the members ensure that water is obtained through legal means.
In addition to signing the charter, the WSD displayed exhibition panels at Maritime Square, Tsing Yi, on 22 March 2012, to appeal to the public not to take water illegally and to assist in combating unauthorised water use.
