Sham Shui Po primary school latest to be affected by Hong Kong's lead-in-water scare

The lead-in-water scare has spread to a Sham Shui Po primary school, with one water sample found to contain more than four times the safe amount of lead.

One of six samples taken from St Thomas' Primary School contained 43.2 micrograms of lead per litre, more than four times the World Health Organisation's safety level of 10mcg/l.

The contaminated sample had been collected earlier this month from a tap for washing hands in a first-floor classroom at the campus on Pratas Street, which was completed in 2011.

Five other samples - in which lead levels were found to be lower than 5mcg/l and within safety limits - were collected from drinking machines located in the staff room, the school office's pantry, the school hall, the sports ground and the covered playground. The machines were installed with distillers.

Water from the school's kitchen, where food supplied to about 500 teachers and pupils is processed, has yet to be tested.

Principal Tam Hsien-ming told parents yesterday that water samples from the kitchen would be tested shortly and distillers would be installed at these taps in the meantime.

"The school is highly concerned and has adopted a series of emergency measures," he said.