GUANGZHOU, April 2 — Hong Kong, once beleaguered by severe water shortages, has evolved into a major global financial center, largely due to the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project.

This initiative, which began construction in 1964 and was completed in 1965, was a response to a catastrophic drought in 1963 that left the city's three million residents grappling with significant water scarcity.

The project involves diverting water from the Dongjiang River, which flows from Jiangxi Province into Guangdong Province and towards the Pearl River Delta.

An 83-kilometer pipeline connects Dongguan City in Guangdong to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Reservoir.

Over the decades, the project has seen several expansions, increasing its capacity from an initial annual supply of 68 million cubic meters to an impressive 2.42 billion cubic meters.

As of March 12, the initiative has supplied over 30 billion cubic meters of water to Hong Kong, fulfilling approximately 80 percent of the city's freshwater requirements.

Protecting this crucial water resource is a priority shared by both Guangdong and Jiangxi.

In Ganzhou City, efforts are centered on conserving the forests around the river’s headwaters through stringent regulatory measures and consistent monitoring.

Meanwhile, efforts in Heyuan City, Guangdong, have included over 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) in investments aimed at river restoration and rejecting more than 500 projects that pose pollution risks.

Residents of Hong Kong, including students, have expressed their recognition of the importance of this collaboration.

A student from Raimondi College remarked on the project as a reflection of the deep bond between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Technological advancements have been integrated into the water supply project, enhancing efficiency and monitoring capabilities.

In a move towards modernization, drones are now employed to oversee reservoirs, while robots inspect pipeline integrity, feeding data into a sophisticated surveillance system.

Liu Kuanguang from the Guangdong Yuehai water supply company highlighted the use of drones to improve oversight, stating that the technology enables up to five inspections daily, all relaying real-time data to maintain water quality.

The collaborative efforts between Guangdong and Hong Kong have intensified since 2020 when the Ministry of Water Resources, alongside the GBA development office, introduced a comprehensive water security plan aimed at sustainable management of resources.

In addition, an innovation center was inaugurated in 2021 to foster research and technological progress in water resource management.

Beyond its practical implications, the water supply project also serves as a cultural catalyst.

At the Guangdong University of Technology, students have begun rehearsing a play that commemorates the volunteers who contributed to the project’s construction.

Director Zheng Meng noted that performances in Guangzhou have received enthusiastic responses, with plans for a show in Hong Kong aimed at broadening awareness and appreciation of the project’s historical significance.