Bishop Hill Reservoir virtual tour available: Michael Wong

Citizens are encouraged to explore the Bishop Hill Reservoir via a virtual tour by the Water Supplies Department, Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun said.

Due to the pandemic, the local tour of the Bishop Hill Reservoir in Sham Shui Po which launched in December, was suspended.

The reservoir had also been temporarily closed to the public since Friday.

Writing in his blog on Sunday, Wong said the Water Supplies Department underwent strengthening and tidying works at the Bishop Hill Reservoir after seeking advice from the Antiquities and Monuments Office.

Temporary bracing was built to hold parts showing signs of possible instability. Apparatuses were installed to monitor the conditions of cracks on the Roman-styled arches.

A glass roof is installed to protect the exposed part of the reservoir from erosion, and bring in natural daylight and fresh air.

Wong added that some improvement works were completed for the guided tours, including provision of internal lighting, ventilation facilities, fire service installations, raised floor pathway, access facilities and ground level greening works.

Despite the guided tour being suspended, Wong said citizens could still explore the reservoir online through a virtual tour made by the Water Supplies Department.

The virtual tour will provide a 360-degree view to the interior of the reservoir, and introduce the reservoir’s history and features, which is now available on the department’s website.

The reservoir in Shek Kip Mei was the former Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir built in 1904. The reservoir is a Romanesque cistern with well-preserved pillars and Roman-style arches dating back to the 1900s.

After being abandoned since the 1970s, the reservoir was unearthed in December 2020 during demolition, causing the authorities to halt the work amid a public outcry.