The 50th meeting of CLG was held after a tour of Ma On Shan Water Treatment Works on 12 January 2008. A presentation was given to members on the organisation and functions of the Water Supplies Department. The department had six branches, namely the Customer Services Branch, the Development Branch, the Finance and Information Technology Branch, the Mechanical and Electrical Branch, the New Works Branch and the Operations Branch. Members were told that the principal functions of WSD are: to plan and manage water resources and water supply systems; to design and construct waterworks; to operate and maintain water supply and distribution systems; to control the quality of water supply to customers; to provide customer services and to enforce the Waterworks Ordinance.
A presentation was also given on "Replacement and Rehabilitation of Water Mains (R & R) Programme to Minimise Mainburst as well as Disruption to the Public". The R & R Programme would replace and rehabilitate about 3,000 kilometers of aged water mains throughout the territory in four stages to improve the condition of the water supply network so as to maintain a reliable supply service to consumers. WSD had taken mitigation measures to alleviate impact on traffic, environment and consumers and liaise with the relevant departments and utility companies to ensure that the works would be carried out smoothly, causing minimum disruption to the public.
