Media

The Centenary Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir
HKU scholar unveils the construction history of Asia’s first great dam

20 Feb 2018

The year 2018 marks the centenary of the construction completion of the Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dam, which was the largest in scale among the British Commonwealth upon its completion.

Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dam was built as a major project of the Tai Tam Reservoir Scheme involving the construction of the largest group of reservoirs between 1883 and 1918 to provide water supply to the Hong Kong Island. The Dam was completed in October 1917 and a memorial stone laid in February 1918. Many of these heritage waterworks have been declared as monuments. The Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail now comprises 21 waterworks structures with historical value.

Recently, the research team of Dr Poon Sun-wah at the Department of Real Estate and Construction of the University of Hong Kong has identified new pieces of evidence to unveil the missing link of the dam’s construction, which include the whereabouts of the submerged Tai Tam Tuk Village (the first-ever village submerged to make way for a reservoir in Hong Kong) and re-settlement details of the villagers, and a profile of the project's engineer-in-charge Mr Daniel Joseph Jaffe who now has a road named after him in Wan Chai to acknowledge his contributions. Dr Poon has also collected daily use items including a soft drink bottle, and soya sauce and drug containers from the remains of the then staff quarters and site office.

Dr Poon will take the opportunity of an exhibition now showing at the HKU Library to commemorate the centenary of the reservoir to present his research findings and show the historical items collected.

Details of the media briefing are as follows:
Date: February 21, 2018 (Wednesday)
Time: 11 am
Venue: 2/F, HKU Main Library (library entrance at University Street)

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Melanie Wan, Senior Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU (tel: 2859 2600/ email: melwkwan@hku.hk)