Lok On Pai desalting plant-Sui Lam

In the 1970s the government commissioned a desalting plant to convert sea water to fresh water as fresh water supplies from China had become uncertain. However, the rapidily rising cost of fuel oil and an easing of problems over the border resulted in the plant being rarely run at full capacity. After closure the site has had many uses. Many people have assumed from its appearance that it was an electricity generating station. In the background of this image is the start of the Tuen Mun Highway construction and the bay where the present Gold Coast hotel/apartment/marina complex is on the top left