Safe
Hong Kong
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Hong Kong?
Yes, tap water in Hong Kong is safe to drink and treated to WHO guideline standards, though many residents filter or boil it by habit due to older building plumbing rather than the treated supply itself.
Hardness
Moderate
Country
Hong Kong
Rating
Safe
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
About 70–80% of Hong Kong's raw water is imported from the Dongjiang (East River) in mainland Guangdong, supplemented by local reservoirs, treated by the Water Supplies Department.
Contaminants & Concerns
No significant concerns in the treated supply. Older buildings can have aging internal plumbing or rooftop tanks that affect water at the point of use.
Tips
- •Tap water is safe, though filtering is a common local habit tied to building plumbing
- •Bottled water is widely available if preferred
- •Newer buildings generally have better-maintained internal plumbing
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
- •CDC Travelers' Health destination pages
- •The municipal water utility's published quality data