Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the “60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong” thematic event series.
As this year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong, to commemorate and celebrate the remarkable milestone, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will organise and provide a series of thematic activities for young people.
Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Mak said that six decades ago, Dongjiang water was first diverted through mountains and valleys into the Hong Kong waterways, resolving the prolonged water scarcity that had plagued the city.
Subsequently, the country expanded and upgraded the water supply system three times. Today, Dongjiang water accounts for over 70% of Hong Kong’s freshwater supply.
She emphasised that the various activities organised under the theme of “60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong” aim to enhance young people’s understanding of the history of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong and the significant role that Dongjiang water has played in the city, enabling the youth to appreciate the substantial support rendered by the country to Hong Kong and strengthening their awareness on cherishing water resources.
The Youth Link will organise the “Exchange Tour to Guangdong Province for the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong” on April 12 and 13 as the debut thematic activity, Miss Mak pointed out.
As such, around 80 Youth Link members will visit national major water conservancy projects and cultural and historical sites in Guangdong Province.
The HYAB will also arrange for the Youth Link members to meet and exchange with local youth and Hong Kong youth residing in the area.
Additionally, the bureau, in collaboration with the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, will lead 500 young people to visit and explore the source of the Dongjiang River at Sanbai Mountain and its surrounding regions in June.
Furthermore, the bureau plans to collaborate with different youth organisations and provide funding support under the “HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland 2025-26” for around 30 exchange projects under the theme of “60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong”.
The visits will cover water conservancy projects and historical and cultural sites in the Sanbai Mountain in Jiangxi Province, as well as in Dongguan, Huizhou, Heyuan in Guangdong Province, enabling the young people to learn more about the history, management and protection of the Dongjiang water engineering project, as well as the culture and history along the areas.
Miss Mak encouraged young people to actively participate in relevant activities to learn more about the story of Dongjiang water and pass on the spirit of gratitude.
