Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir, a place to explore history of water supply in Hong Kong(1/7)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

The Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir was rediscovered in 2020 after being decommissioned for more than a few decades. Featuring European-style granite piers and red brick arches imitating Roman civil engineering works, the structure offers a precious glimpse of Hong Kong’s water supply history over the past 100 years.

Built in 1904, the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir was huge in size and supplied fresh water to people living in Kowloon Tong, Sham Shui Po and Tai Hang Tung. The Shek Kip Mei Fresh Water Service Reservoir, with a storage capacity ten times larger, was commissioned in 1970. The Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir then ceased operations in the same year.

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)

People visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, July 5, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Li Zhihua)