Building participating in WSPSS must meet the following criteria:
- It should be private residential or composite (commercial and residential) building (including a building held by a Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Societies); and
- the average annual rateable value of all the domestic units in the building should not exceed the ceiling as given in the table below:
District Average annual rateable value ceiling of all the domestic unitsNote 1 Urban areas
(including Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing, and Tsuen Wan districts)$187,000 The New Territories
(excluding Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan districts)$143,000
WSPSS does not cover those buildings with three storeys or lessNote 2.
Applicant must be owners’ corporation (OC), owners’ committee or Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (CBS) of the building.
Those buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBS will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Open date for application: 13th July 2020
- Application form and application notes can be downloaded from this webpage or obtained from WSD’s Customer Enquiry Centres, respective Home Affairs Enquiry Centres, and the Urban Renewal Authority’s Urban Renewal Resource Centre at Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui as well as Building Rehabilitation Division at Cheung Sha Wan Office.
- The application form and necessary documents can be submitted through the following channels:
- Online:
Online Application Platform - By post to the following address:
47th Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong - In person to any WSD’s Customer Enquiry Centres
- Online:
Application for WSPSS is on a per building-basis. Applicant may choose to submit joint applications for more than one building in the same housing estate.
WSPSS is operated on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications having the same date of receipt will be sorted in order by drawing a lots.
- For online application, the date of receipt should refer to the date on which the acknowledgement for receipt of application is issued via the online application platform.
- For application by post, the date of receipt should refer to the postmark date.
- For application in person, the date of receipt should refer to the date of receipt by WSD.
If the application form is incomplete or any necessary documents is missing, the date of receipt should refer to the date when the duly completed application form and all the necessary documents are received.
Those eligible buildings that already have made their applications for the “Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System)” (QMS) on or after 16th October 2019, can also join WSPSS.
WSPSS will subsidise the following items:
- formulation of WSPB including water safety risk assessment on the internal plumbing system of building by qualified person (QP) Note 3 subject to a cap of $10,000 per building;
- during the first and second cycles Note 4 of the implementation of WSPB, regular maintenance (including cleansing of the water tanks) for the internal plumbing system and specific checkings by QP Note 5 as required in WSPB, subject to a cap of $32,500 and $10,000 per building for the first (first 2 years) and second (the following 2 years) cycles respectively; and
- audits of the implementation of the WSPB and reviews of WSPB as required in WSPB during the first and second cycles of implementation, if independent party Note 6 is engaged for the tasks, subject to a cap of $5,000 and $2,500 per building for the first (first 2 years) and second (the following 2 years) cycles respectively.
If rectification works and/or water quality tests are recommended in the water safety risk assessment mentioned in paragraph (a) above for controlling the water safety risks, WSD will arrange consultant to assess the scope of the recommended rectification works and/or water quality tests and conduct an independent cost estimation for deciding the amount of any additional subsidy for carrying out the rectification works and/or water quality tests. The additional subsidy will be subject to a cap of $250,000 per building.
The recommended rectification works mentioned above, must comply with the relevant legislations. The subsidy will cover the relevant consultancy fee. The applicant should avoid receipt of double benefit for carrying out rectification works. If subsidies have already been granted to the Applicant on the same rectification works from other schemes, for example, "Operation Building Bright 2.0", "Common Area Repair Works Subsidy", etc., subsidy for the same works will not be granted under WSPSS.
The details of the above content are subject to the “Application Notes for WSPSS”.
Common Rectification Works for Enhancing Water Safety
Sample of Written Quotation/Tender Schedule Form for Services -
Formulation of Water Safety Plan
Work Flow of Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme
List of Buildings with Subsidy Released
List of Participating Buildings - Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme
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What is “Water Safety Plan for Buildings”?
Answer: Water Safety Plan for Buildings (“WSPB”) provides a systematic and effective management framework for the internal plumbing system which includes conducting risk assessments, implementing measures for controlling water safety risks, regular checkings, inspections and maintenance of the internal plumbing system, as well as audits of implementation and reviews of WSPB.
For details of the WSPB, please visit the webpage “Water Safety Plan for Buildings”.
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How is the ceilings of the average annual rateable value of all the domestic units mentioned in the eligibility criteria under “Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme” calculated?
Answer: Application for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme (“WSPSS”) is on a per building basis. The ceilings are calculated based on the average annual rateable value of all the domestic units of a building as of 2022/23. Buildings completed after 2022/23 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants of those buildings can make applications for our consideration.
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Are village houses eligible to join WSPSS?
Answer: Village houses are generally of three storeys or less. As the internal plumbing systems of these buildings are relatively simple and the portions of communal parts are insignificant, the water safety risk of their internal plumbing systems is relatively low. Hence, WSPSS does not cover those buildings with three storeys or less. The drinking water safety of these buildings could be enhanced by making reference to the relevant measures available at WSD’s webpage.
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Why must the applicant be owners’ corporation (“OC”), owners’ committee or Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (“CBS”) of the building?
Answer: Implementation of WSPB involves the internal plumbing system of the whole building, which requires the concerted efforts of property owners. Therefore, buildings with OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs should be more competent in implementing the various measures as required under WSPB due to their better organisation abilities. For buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs, we will consider on a case-by-case basis.
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If property owners of buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs are interested in implementing WSPB, what support will the Government provide?
Answer: Buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs can provide information of the contact person in the application form for contact purpose. We will consider the application on a case-by-case basis.
WSD’s social service team will also offer assistance to those property owners of buildings in need.
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Who can act as the applicant’s representative to make applications for WSPSS?
Answer: Please refer to the table below:
Type of owners’ association Applicant Applicant’s representative Owners’ Corporation (“OC”) OC 1. Two authorised committee members of the Management Committee of the OC; or
2. the Manager2.Owners’ Committee1 Owners’ Committee 1. Two authorised members of the Owners’ Committee; or
2. Two authorised members of the Owners’ Committee and the Manager2 as co-representatives.Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (“CBS”) CBS 1. an authorised member of the CBS Committee. - appointed in accordance with Deed of Mutual Covenant (“DMC”)
- appointed in accordance with the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and the DMC
For details, please refer to paragraph 3 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
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WSPSS is operated on a first-come-first-served basis. What are the details?
Answer: WSPSS is operated on a first-come-first-served basis with a view to encouraging property owners of eligible buildings to formulate and implement WSPB as early as possible.
For details, please refer to paragraph 2.4 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
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How to engage qualified person?
Answer: Qualified persons (“QPs”) provide WSPB related services to property owners and management agents, including water safety risk assessment for formulation of WSPB and specific checkings on internal plumbing system of the building. It would require around 2 to 3 man-days for a building with general internal plumbing layout, whereas it may take a longer time for a more complicated internal plumbing system. We organise training sessions and workshops on WSPB via accredited training institutions to train up QPs.
All new and renewal applications of Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System) (“QMS”) submitted on or after 1 July 2020 shall require a QP, who is on the List of Qualified Persons Trained in Water Safety Plan for Buildings and passed the assessments, to certify the relevant parts of the documents. For enquiry of the list of trained QPs, please refer to this link: List of Qualified Persons Trained in Water Safety Plan for Buildings.
For details of the QPs, please visit the webpage “Qualified Persons”.
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If subsidies for rectification works from other subsidy schemes have been granted to a building participating WSPSS, can the building apply for additional subsidy from WSPSS for carrying out the rectification works concerned?
Answer: Applicant can apply for subsidies under different subsidy schemes for carrying out rectification works for buildings (including rectification works of internal plumbing systems), e.g. “Common Area Repair Works Subsidy” launched by the Urban Renewal Authority, etc. If the rectification works concerned are measures recommended in the water safety risk assessment with an aim to control water safety risks, additional subsidy from WSPSS can be granted for carrying out the rectification works. However, the applicant shall avoid receipt of double benefit, i.e. receipt of subsidy or grant on the same works item from both WSPSS and other schemes. For works item already having subsidy or grant approved under other scheme, subsidy for the same works item will not be approved under WSPSS.
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What is QMS?
Answer: To encourage property owners and management agents to implement WSPB, WSD launched QMS in November 2017 to issue certificates to recognise the property owners and management agents’ efforts in the implementation of WSPB.
For details of the QMS, please visit the webpage “Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System)”.
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Will it be costly to implement WSPB?
Answer: WSD has paid particular attention to property owners’ affordability during the formulation of the scheme and thus believed that implementing WSPB would not cause great burden on the property owners. Except for water safety risk assessment and annual specific checkings on internal plumbing system which have to be conducted by QP, other measures under WSPB can actually be integrated into the routine operation and maintenance works in property management of the building.
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If the cost of the rectification works exceeds the additional subsidy of $250,000, should the property owners bear the costs in exceedance?
Answer: Rectification works may be required for internal plumbing system as recommended in water risk assessment and the cost of such works depends on the scale of the works recommended. Normally, the works required for controlling water safety risks are of limited scale, which generally include addition of meshes to overflowing pipes, replacement of tank covers, replacement of plumbing fittings (non-return valves), etc. The cost to be involved is unlikely to be significant. Despite this, we have allowed subsidy provisions under the scheme for the need of carrying out larger scale plumbing works, e.g. replacement of aged pipes, water tanks, etc. The cap of the relevant subsidy under WSPSS should generally be able to subsidise wholly the rectification works required for implementation of WSPB. However, in case largescale plumbing works are required to be implemented, the property owners should have to bear the cost in exceedance of the subsidy cap.
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How should the approved applicants for WSPSS apply the release of subsidy? Will the relevant subsidy items under WSPSS be fully reimbursed?
Answer: The applicant shall apply to WSD by submitting the duly completed claim form and all necessary documentary proofs, including but not limited to: bank statement within nearly 3 months, original payment receipts or invoices, and copy of payment vouchers, etc. , for the release of subsidies upon completion of the relevant items under WSPSS. WSD will release the subsidies to the applicant after verification of all the documentary proofs of the relevant items, e.g. WSPB, actual works programme indicating the completed recommended items of rectification works. As long as the claim amount does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, an item can be fully reimbursed.
For details, please refer to paragraph 6 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
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Will the relevant party be prosecuted due to non-compliance in the internal plumbing system identified in the water safety risk assessment ?
Answer: Implementation of WSPB is voluntary and mainly focuses on the control of water safety risks of the building rather than unveiling non-compliance in the internal plumbing system. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the property owners to properly manage and maintain the internal plumbing system and take appropriate corrective actions against any non-compliance found.
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How will the audit for WSPB be conducted?
Answer: WSPB audit is for the sake of continuous improvement. It shall be carried out at least once every two years and conducted by an independent party who have not participated in the formulation or implementation of WSPB for the building to be audited. The independent party can either be an outside party engaged solely for the task or a person already immersed in the day-to-day property management of the building. Preferably, the independent party shall have undergone training related to internal audit of quality management system. WSPB audit aims to verify the effectiveness of its implementation and identify areas for improvement so as to enhance its implementation in future.
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Can the building withdraw from WSPSS halfway due to some reasons? Will the Government request the property owners to return the subsidy released?
Answer: Participating buildings under WSPSS are obliged to implement WSPB properly. Except for very special circumstances, we reserve the right to recover any subsidises released for building withdraws from WSPSS during the subsidy period.
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How to ensure that the relevant QPs provide appropriate professional services?
Answer: WSD will engage consultants to examine the scope of rectification works recommended by QPs in the water safety risk assessments. Moreover, WSD will randomly select participating buildings for checking whether there are any omissions in the WSPBs formulated by QPs. Property owners and management agents can also lodge complaint to WSD on the professional performance of the QPs. WSD will conduct necessary investigation and follow up action.
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Renewal of QMS should be submitted within 3 months after the expiry date of the last certificate, otherwise it will be considered as new application. Will the relevant subsidy be released under WSPSS if the subsidised building cannot make renewal application within that 3-month period?
Answer: Under the WSPSS, the applicant can only apply for the release of subsidies for the relevant items in implementation of WSPB after obtaining a valid certificate for QMS.
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If Water Safety Plan is not able to be submitted within 3 months after the date of Approve-In-Principle letter, will the WSPSS be affected ?
Answer: Applicants of those buildings can submit a written letter with brief description of relevant reasons for granting extension of time for our consideration. It will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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If a new scope of rectification work is identified after submission of letter of undertaking, could the property owners apply for the remaining subsidy which does not exceed the additional subsidy?
Answer: The applicant shall additionally engage a QP for conducting water safety risk assessment on the newly identified defective internal plumbing system and suggesting new scope of rectification works for submission to WSD. WSD will arrange a consultant for assessing the new scope of recommended items. As long as the subsidy amount of those new recommended item(s) does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, those item(s) can be fully reimbursed.
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How to apply for release of subsidy regarding the recommended items of rectification works?
Answer: Generally, the applicant could apply release of the approved subsidy amount of the recommended items of rectification works in stages (frequency not less than one month) in the form of reimbursement according to the actual progress of works. Upon completion of all the approved recommended items of rectification works, the applicant could apply for an accumulated maximum payment of 80% of the subsidy amount for the completed recommended items of rectification works. The applicant could only apply for release of the remaining 20% of the approved subsidy amount after completion of all the recommended items of rectification works. The applicant shall submit the actual works programme for indicating the completed recommended items of rectification works, duly completed claim form and all necessary documentary proofs, including but not limited to: bank statement within nearly 3 months, original payment receipts or invoices, and copy of payment vouchers, etc. . WSD will release the subsidies regarding the recommended items after verification of all the documentary proofs. As long as the claim amount does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, the items can be fully reimbursed after completion of all the recommended items of rectification works.
Answer: The implementation of WSPB, which involves the internal plumbing system of the whole building, will require the long-term coordinated effort of property owners in the building. Therefore, it is a prudent to have the owners’ meeting passing the resolution of participating WSPSS in order to avoid future disputes in the implementation of WSPB and affect its effectiveness.
Nevertheless, in response to the current volatility of the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand that there may be impact on arranging and convening owners’ meetings passing the resolution of participating WSPSS. In this regard, we allow applicants to submit the application forms first, and then supplement the meeting notices and minutes of the owners’ meeting. This will allow the applicants to arrange and convene relevant meetings when circumstances permit.
However, we will still prioritise the processing of those applications with all the necessary documents submitted, for the sake of fairness. Should there be any special circumstances, please contact us for enquiry.
Answer: Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, WSD understands that there may be impact on arranging and convening owners’ meetings. As such, we have allowed applicants to submit the application forms first, and then supplement the meeting notices and minutes of the owners’ meeting.
For building owners at housing estates, after paying due regard to the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and/or the deed of mutual covenant (DMC) that the day-to-day business of owners’ corporation (OC) or owners’ committee could be performed by the Management Committee as well as the subsidy mode of WSPSS, we shall also accept the following arrangement as an alternative to satisfy the requirement of convening owners’ meeting to pass the resolution for applying WSPSS:-
(i) the resolution for application of WSPSS being passed in the Management Committee’s meeting and supported by simple majority of the owners in writing;
(ii) the applicant's representative may be authorized through decision in the Management Committee’s meeting, and
(iii) the applicant shall submit the application form together with the meeting notices and minutes of the Management Committee’s meeting and the summary showing the intention of each flat owner. The letters of intent from the owners shall be properly kept for checking by WSD when necessary.
The applicant shall be owners’ corporation (OC) or owners’ committee for those who passed to apply for WSPSS via Management Committee’s meeting, they shall employ the Qualified Person (QP) to formulate the WSPB including water safety risk assessment on the internal plumbing system of the building and carry out the recommended items in accordance with the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and/or the DMC. If tendering is involved, the applicant shall also follow the latest Code of Practice on Procurement of Supplies, Goods and Services issued by the Home Affairs Department. The tendering documents must incorporate the relevant sample clauses and appendices on probity and anti-collusion recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
![Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System) - Form A1 [applicable to Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme]](/filemanager/en/content_1927/qms-form-a1-cover-e.jpg "Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System) - Form A1 [applicable to Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme]")
