Author: C.K.Y. Ho, P.C.K. Chu, R.W.Y. To, S.W.L. Shou, S.S.F. Chan, H.H.C. Lai
Source: Connecting Communities Through Underground Infrastructure
Abstract
Being one of the most densely populated cities in the World, Hong Kong faces challenges of increasing flood risk due to the more frequent and intense rainstorms as a result of climate change. The rapid urban development and extension of paved areas have also significantly increased the surface runoff, thus overloading the drainage systems.
To relieve the flood risk in the years to come in Eastern District of Hong Kong in which the drainage system is long-established and flooding occurred in the recent years, Drainage Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (DSD) plans to improve the drainage system by constructing a stormwater drainage tunnel (the Hong Kong East Drainage Tunnel (HKEDT)).
The main tunnel of HKEDT will be constructed by a combination of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and Drill and Blast (D&B), which are selected based on various factors including geological condition, public impact, programme and cost-effectiveness. HKEDT will intercept the stormwater from the upstream catchment of approximately 262 hectares for direct discharge to the sea, thus alleviating the flood risk in Eastern District and protecting a population of about 150,000.