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There are many differences in the approach to hydraulic design in Hong Kong to Australia and some of these are:
Most of Hong Kong's potable water is purchased from China, and in some areas supply is limited, particularly in remote parts of the New Territories.
 Water used to flush toilets and urinals is salt water and drawn locally from the bays and seas around the area. As some areas have become severely polluted, this can mean the flushing water is badly discoloured and at times can have an unpleasant odour.
Only very low-rise buildings have a direct towns main connections to fixtures, the common method is known as "sump and pump" whereby a storage tank is installed in a basement on a low level of a building and water is then pumped to a roof tank.
Storage is strictly controlled, and for potable water, 135 litres is stored for the first ten units and 90 litres for each additional unit. Flushing water is stored at the rate of 45 litres per unit. It is usual to provide one third of the storage water in the sump and two thirds in the roof tank.
On commercial, residential and warehouses, each unit has a water meter.
Gas design is carried out by the local gas supply company, and the hydraulic designer has very little input apart from space allocation.
Hot water is rarely provided apart from in prestige office buildings and residential buildings. Practically every residential building has gas hot water, as gas piping is installed to provide and 18kW instantaneous heater for the bathroom and a 6kW unit for the kitchen.
Water for fire-fighting is sea water and it is stored in concrete tanks. I was not aware of any other form of tank construction.
Stack work is almost exclusively cast iron for main work, with galvanised mild steel or uPVC for small branches.
Potable water is now copper tube, this is a very recent change as less than two years ago, galvanised mild steel was commonly used.
Flush water is uPVC with cast iron used for larger sizes.
Fire mains are mostly galvanised mild steel and cast iron.
Most large swimming pools are heated despite the warm climate, and heat pumps are very common.
On residential buildings, most riser piping and stack work is external, so consideration must be given to accessibility.
Most cooling towers are air-type due to the cost of water.
Very little recycling appears to take place.
Hong Kong and China can be an exciting place to work and live due to the pace of the area and the enormous size of many developments, but caution is required.
FEES:
Fees are low by Australian standards.
Payments:
On most projects no progress payments for fees are made. The first payment is on submission for approval to the relevant Authority. Payments to consultants are not made with haste and it is usual to wait several months for payment.
One very noticeable exception is the Sun Hung Kai company which is extremely professional, and any consultant gaining a commission off this company is fortunate indeed.
RENT:
Rents for offices and accommodation in Hong Kong are very high and average at least four times Sydney rents.
STAFFING:
There is a very high demand for skilled design staff, so wages are high and staff are difficult to retain. All in all, an interesting place to work and gain experience although six-day weeks are normal and seven days is not always an exception.
If your day off is on Sunday, be prepared to share it with enormous crowds of people, all having the same day off.
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 Presented Courtesy of
The Association of Hydraulic Services
Consultants Australia Inc (AHSCA)
"Plumbers Protect The Health Of The World."
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