Fresh water samples 'contain excessive lead'
Government makes discovery in tests taken at four public housing flats in Kowloon City and will provide free water to anyone at risk
Fears over tainted fresh water supplied to a public housing estate in Kowloon City widened as the government revealed last night that samples taken from four flats were found to contain an excessive amount of lead.
A government expert maintained that the contamination level posed little risk to those who had been drinking the water, but refused to disclose which units were involved.
Lead poisoning can cause multi-organ failure and damage to the nervous system. It is particularly harmful to children.
Director of Housing Stanley Ying Yiu-hong said residents of the four flats would be notified of the contamination and the government would give away bottled water to some families living in Kai Ching Estate – those with children below six years, pregnant women and breastfeeding 8mothers, who are most at risk.
The government also disclosed that lead was found in pipeline binding materials in 8another two flats.
Ying said yesterday the government was trying to establish what had happened with the contractor involved – China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) – and would not rule out the possibility of holding the company 8responsible.
The company could not be reached for comment last night.
