URGENT steps are needed to improve the water quality of Hong Kong's sea and rivers.
Reports by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) show the water is as bad as it was two years ago.
The reports detail results from both marine and river water quality testing programmes conducted in 1991.
The EDP's principal protection officer (water quality) Dr Malcolm Broom said the fresh water report showed that rivers in the territory's north and northwest remained heavily polluted.
The marine report highlighted the serious water pollution problems affecting Victoria Harbour and other coastlines near to high population centres.
Dr Broom said marine water quality was still largely poor, but the deteriorating trend was levelling off with the gradual implementation of the water control zone.
