Plover Cove Reservoir

The Plover Cove Reservoir, a convenient day trip location for nature lovers, is tucked away in the lovely Plover Cove Country Park. However, very few people would be aware of the skill with which it was built as well as its historical importance, which is especially pertinent given the social and political climate of today.

The Plover Cove Reservoir, the largest in area and second in volume among Hong Kong's many reservoirs, was the city's first freshwater coastal lake. In the 1950s and 1970s, when Hong Kong lacked inland water bodies to support its rapid population and industrial growth, the colonial British government began to look for alternatives in order to achieve self-sufficiency in freshwater supply. It began by building reservoirs to hold enough rainwater for the city's consumption.

Plover Cove is uniquely blessed with geographic advantages. By building a dam that would effectively serve as the fourth limb of a blocked off region, the cove, which is enclosed on three sides, might be completely cut off from the sea. The vacuum was subsequently transformed into a freshwater lake by draining the reservoir's seawater. The reservoir, which was built between 1960 and 1968, was intended to be a devoted protector of the city's vital freshwater resources. After it was finished, other significant reservoirs were built for related purposes, including the High Island Reservoir and the Lok On Pai Desalting Plant.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong has never achieved self-sufficiency in freshwater supply. In the aftermath of Hong Kong's return to China, the British government decided to begin purchasing water from China's East River in 1965. When it was finished, the Plover Cove reservoir served as a rain catchment system as well as a storage facility for water from the East River. Imported water gradually replaced local supply as the primary source of freshwater in Hong Kong. The reliance on imported water has since sparked heated debates, with critics fearful that such a practice would jeopardize Hong Kong's autonomy.

The Plover Cove Reservoir now rests serenely at the edge of Plover Cove, supporting a variety of freshwater species and meeting the demands of vacationing hikers. But at its core, it reflects the city's ongoing effort to maintain independence from outside forces. Take a moment to feel it the next time you're hiking past the Reservoir.

Location: Pat Sin Leng and Plover Cove Country Park