HK desalination plant expected to be completed on schedule

Zhang Baoping, from the company and the manager of the project, said the construction began in December 2019 and will end in March 2023.

"Although affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the project is expected to be completed as scheduled," he said, adding that many construction materials are from cities in Guangdong province, which helps to save time cost.

The desalination plant is part of a wider strategy of the SAR to tackle water supplies challenges associated with climate change and diversify its supply sources.

The daily consumption of water in Hong Kong is 2.7 million cubic meters. About 75 percent of the fresh water comes from the mainland, and 25 percent from local reservoirs and rainwater, official data showed.