Dozens of Hong Kong schools to get free water filters amid lead scare, but kindergartens must buy their own

Water filters will be fitted at all primary and secondary schools built by the government after 2005, but private kindergartens catering to children most at risk from lead-contaminated water will have to help themselves.

The Social Welfare Department also promised to install filters at dozens of special education and childcare centres built by the government after 2005 that provide services to children aged under six.

"We decided to focus specifically on children aged under six, because we believe this group of children should be priority," said Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip Man-kuen, after a cross-department special meeting on the discovery of excessive lead in school tap water.

"Children under six are most at risk from lead," said Permanent Secretary for Education Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen. "These children are studying in kindergartens … Because kindergartens are privately run, we will not install [filters] for them. But we suggest kindergartens consider buying and installing filters as soon as possible."

Chan said the bureau would install filters for about 80 schools built by the government after 2005. There are 1,200 primary and secondary schools across the city.

She said contractors had switched to using copper water pipes after 2005 and if plumbers had used lead when fitting them, these pipes were riskier.