So we will be required to connect once the sewerage is in place? Any regulations about that? Any workarounds?

Why wouldn't you want to?

If you own the property, it's an investment.
It'll increase the value of the property.
It'll pay off eventually, against the cost of having the septic tank cleaned out every few years.

It's not fun having an overflowing toilet when it gets backed up. Living on the ground floor for the last 14 years, we were the first to suffer any sewage problems.

But have no fear, there are plenty of greedy and short-sighted landlords here who will fight for years, decades, before they eventually have it connected.

What a ridiculous system, though I can't say I'm surprised. You'd think that after all the expense and trouble in implementing the main sewage infrastructure the government would 1. make it compulsory for owners to connect and 2. make it the same cheap, subsidised connection price for every house.

But then, this is the same place they want to fill half the harbour with concrete and build a concrete bicycle park that nobody will use - so it all makes sense.

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Marc Antony, it is absolutely compulsory to connect, no way out for house owners, as far as I know, but there are many ways of delaying the connection for flat/house owners,
from ignoring all the notices they'll send you, even claiming that you never saw them or making up various excuses,
to claiming that you can't afford the connection, asking for delays or even a loan from the govt.,
to waiting for the long drawn-out way through the courts when the govt. will finally sue you for non-compliance.

It's probably quite similar to not paying your taxes. It might take them years and they might be waiting quite patiently, but they'll usually get their money in the end.

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They're probably hoping to get the govt to pay for it all, and knowing this government, they probably eventually will,in some indirect and inefficient way that allows then to claim it isn't just giving money to the usual suspects.

OK that makes sense, but it'd also make sense if the connection fee was the same across the board - less likelihood of people avoiding it, claiming unfair treatment, inability to pay, etc.

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It's kind of ridiculous that owners have to find their own contractors. I certainly don't know any experts in sewage construction that I know I could trust to do it right when I'm forking out $50K! But I bet the government does.

Totally agree that is ridiculous. I naturally (stupidly!) assumed the government would at least be arranging approved contractors. The fact that they are advocating piecemeal connection tells us they don't really care about the successful outcome of the sewage project - they're mainly concerned about providing jobs for the boys and kowtowing to the NT powers that be.

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Marc Anthony, we expressed that to the Govt. and sewage contractors in strong words in meetings, but it seems their standard practice in all sewage works not to support the house-owners in getting connected, just to chase them to get it done. They might consider it to be too much trouble for them, so they don't want to get involved, considering their job done once the pipes and sewage treatment works are completed.

Come to the mini-exhibition next week Sat and Sun, June 29/30, in the Rural Committee building to learn about the details. Not sure if there will be anybody present to answer questions from house/flat owners...

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It's the same as water and electricity connection. The authorities bring the network up to the house. It's the home owner's responsibility to connect to the mains.

Fair enough, but to my mind there's a difference between electricity and water, which have been there (give or take) since the houses were built, and the sewage, which is a current project and would benefit hugely by being centrally coordinated. It all seems a bit third world and shambolic. Loads of jobs though.

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It's the same in the UK. Water company has responsibility up to the boundary of your property, you are responsible for connecting to the drains there.
But the diference is that most of houses in UK were built with connections to main sewers already in situ, they didn't come as an afterthought, so most people don't realise that is even the rule.
Also local authority building inspectors will check and certify the connection complies with building code before any trenches etc are filled in. It involves performing smoke tests and putting a camera down the pipe and is very thorough. I know this because years ago I had to reroute my ain drain run due to a house renovation.
Who is going to regulate the connection ot the main sewerage system here to make sure all the connections are up to scratch? I somehow doubt hte testing will be as thorough before approval notices/permissions are issued?

Generally how often do septic tanks need to be cleaned out? I have never seen it being done or heard anyone talking about having it done.

Roughly every 2-5 years.

Depends on how much product the house makes, and especially how much non-decomposible stuff has been flushed.

Info leaflets for flat owners, from the "Sewage Connection Mini-exhibition" in the Rural Committee last weekend in the Rural Committee Bldg. opposite HSBC, see below. Still available from their literature rack at the entrance.

Plus some info not on the leaflet I got from the civil servants from various depts. present in the mini-exhibition:

Cost per Village House typically below $20,000, to be shared by the flat owners. Govt. will advise in general, but NOT recommend contractors or get involved in the connections, relying on the local boys to handle it all, including promoting their connection services to the house owners.

Village Reps and local politicians are supposed to inform the house owners. But have you ever heard from your village rep or even know who he is?

Letters to the first batch of houses to be connected has been issued, list of addresses available from Drainage & Sewage Dept. My neighbour is listed, but not my house.
Completion of YSW Sewage Treatment Plant at end of this month, Sok Kwu Wan Plant mid 2014. The very first houses in YSW have been notified that they should start to think about connecting, mainly the most polluting businesses along Main Street.
Experiences from other islands shows that it'll take over 5 years to connect less than 50% of houses. Enforcement to connect is similar to illegal structures, meaning very patient, long-term and rarely ever an enforcement law suit (to "maintain social harmony").
Govt. loans for connection costs available for application.

2nd stage of the sewage pipes has not even been gazetted yet to find a contractor, still under negotiation in Govt. This stage means another 7km of pipes being dug up over the next several years, starting next year, connecting most Village Houses to the top of Po Wah Yuen, Tai Peng Old Village, Tai Wan Old Village and even Hung Shing Yeh, but not Pak Kok.

The Sok Kwu Wan Sewage Treatment Plant - that massive "landslip" in the Ling Kok Shan hillside, in-between Sok Kwu Wan and Mo Tat Wan, will have a capacity of max. 2,500 people, several times as many as are living down there now. But it won't be big enough for the Govt.'s housing plans for the ex-Quarry on the opposite side of Picnic Bay. Those suggested 5,000 people would get their own Sewage Treatment Plant.

Leaflet:
"Connections to Sewers, Eng - Page 1" - Who Will Pay?
"Connections to Sewers, Eng - Page 2" - Why Connect? How to Connect?

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Email from the AECOM, the consultants for the 2nd phase of the sewerage piping connecting almost every house on North Lamma (except Pak Kok). Another 9.1km of sewerage pipes to be laid over the next several years, starting mid-2014, adding to the only 3+km laid so far in the last several years, mostly through the village center. If there's been no pipes laid to your house yet, they'll come to you soon. See detailed maps higher up in this topic (sewerage maps and details)

"We are pleased to inform you that we have obtained the funding approval from the Public Works Subcommittee of Finance Committee under Legislative Council. We are now in the process of tender invitation for the works contract, which comprises construction of approximately 9.1km of gravity sewers in 13 unsewered areas in Yung Shue Wan of Lamma Island, a sewage pumping station and 50m of twin rising mains at O Tsai.

Subject to successful completion of the tendering exercise, the works contract is anticipated to be awarded in December 2013. However, we do not expect major construction activities to be carried out on site in the first few months. Once the contractor is on board, we will work out a detailed construction programme taking into account the contractor's resources, site constraints, consultation with the local residents and other relevant factors."

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I'm still confused regarding the 'Sewage Works'. Years ago, we were told that Phase 1 and 2 would be started and completed within a particular time frame.

Then they finished 'Phase 1'... then realised that the 'paths' couldn't accomodate Phase 2 Sewage works, as not enough space for VV's and pedestrians. After Phase 1 finished a couple of years ago, they have been trying to buy up private land to continue.

WTF.. a billion dollar project and they didn't know this before they started???

Is this the norm in HK? Start a billion dollar project which will take years, but not even look at the whole project for the duration?

And now are waiting for a 'tender' to be approved?

Sigh......

Phase 2 is about to commence in December 2013 and estimated completion time is 5 years hence. Its a $340 million project so expect plenty of noise to compete with the VV's and circular saws.The good news is that the locals are going to have to give up some of the land they have sequestered.

Wow.. the local landlords/landowners must be rubbing their hands with glee. I'm assuming they are going to be paid for it, (the land they are giving up?) although I don't understand why??

Not to mention the local construction workers.

Sigh..... think this is going to 'push me over the edge' LOL

i am looking forward to phase 2 because the septic tank of my house now needs pumping ever 6 months. The leach field is totally saturated. Absent landlords mean that i and a couple of other flat owners are shouldering the cost. Every time i experience a flooded bathroom i have to lay out money upfront and then spend weeks chasing the other owners. As usual, too many village houses were built, not enough consideration was given to the type of ground on which they were built. They build to sell, so obviously they don't care about any future problems. And the government is still giving permission to build more village houses, instead of waiting until the sewerage plant is finished and pipes are in place. It's insane. Given that there are so many absent flat owners, i wonder who will force them to share the cost of connecting to the main sewage pipe, if 2 owners out of 6 want to.