Plumber at centre of Hong Kong water scandal reveals more possible lead contamination sites

The plumber at the centre of Hong Kong's lead contamination scare has revealed that a hospital, more than 10 public housing estates and an unspecified number of private residential developments may be affected through their fresh water pipes.

An official investigation has yet to trace the source of contamination, but the Housing Department confirmed yesterday that the lead content was 50 per cent in samples taken from soldering materials in water pipes in Kowloon City's Kai Ching Estate.

READ MORE: Hong Kong’s lead-in-drinking-water crisis - everything you need to know

That lends more weight to the government's theory that the problem may originate from pipes being soldered with material containing lead, which experts say should not be used on machinery in contact with food or drinking water.

More details of the contamination were revealed yesterday by Lam Tak-sum, the licensed plumber whom the government named as responsible for pipe works at Kai Ching Estate, Kwai Luen Estate in Kwai Chung and Shui Chuen O Estate in Sha Tin, where excessive levels of lead were found in tap water.

Giving a public account of his role on a radio show, he said the soldering materials used at the estates were purchased by engineering firm Ho Biu Kee, the sub-contractor which hired him, and were then approved by the Housing Department.

"The process was something I could not supervise," he said.

He further revealed that the company had used "almost the same materials" as those in the three estates on various other projects in recent years, including St Paul's Hospital in Causeway Bay, more than 10 public housing estates and some private housing blocks.