The country has always taken the livelihood needs of Hong Kong to heart, and its support for Hong Kong is impressive. Standing at the Taiyuan Pumping Station, the first level pumping station of the Dongshen Water Supply Project in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, Zhang Kunjie, a student of Hong Kong Bishop's College, deeply felt it. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong. For the past 60 years, high-quality fresh water from Dongjiang has been continuously supplied to Hong Kong, with a total supply of over 30 billion cubic meters, accounting for about 80% of Hong Kong's total fresh water demand, providing strong support for the lives and economic development of Hong Kong citizens. In recent days, a series of commemorative activities for the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong have been held in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Jiangxi and other places. With the advancement of the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area and the acceleration of Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development, compatriots who are deeply connected and have a deep blood bond will interpret more touching stories of integrated development. Without Dongjiang water, there would be no Hong Kong today. "In 1963, Hong Kong suffered a severe drought, causing more than 3.5 million citizens to face difficulties in their daily lives and severely affecting its economic development. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council are concerned about Hong Kong compatriots. At the end of 1963, Premier Zhou Enlai personally approved the construction of the Dongshen Water Supply Project. On February 20, 1964, the entire project began construction, and in just one year, the grand 83 kilometer water supply project was completed. On March 1, 1965, the deep affection of the motherland, Dongjiang water, flowed into Hong Kong, ending the history of severe water shortage in Hong Kong. Since then, generations of builders have dared to innovate and continue to strive, expanding and renovating the Dongshen Water Supply Project four times. The annual water supply scale has increased from 68 million cubic meters in the early stages of construction to 2.423 billion cubic meters, effectively supporting Hong Kong's transformation from a traditional processing and manufacturing industry to an international financial center, shipping center, and trade center, and achieving the prosperous urban scene of Hong Kong today. At the recent press conference on the 60th anniversary of the Dongshen Water Supply Project's effectiveness in supplying water to Hong Kong, the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources announced that the Dongshen Water Supply Project has provided over 30 billion cubic meters of water to Hong Kong, injecting strong impetus into its vigorous development. The water supply network of the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government covers almost all the population in Hong Kong. Dongjiang accounts for about 80% of Hong Kong's total freshwater consumption and is the lifeline of Hong Kong's prosperity and development, "said Director Huang Ennuo. Zhu Zhaolin, a member of the National Hong Kong and Macao Research Association, said that stable supply of Dongjiang water and sufficient drinking water resources are the basic prerequisites for the prosperity and stable development of Hong Kong. Recalling the days when Hong Kong used to have "water supply once every 4 days, only for 4 hours each time" and citizens queued up to fetch water with buckets, the former director of the Water Supplies Department, Gao Zanjue, who is nearly 80 years old, still feels a lot of emotion: "Without Dongjiang water, Hong Kong would not be where it is today." "Connected by a single stream, drinking water is like remembering its source." Dongjiang water originates from Qingshan Cuigu in Xunwu County and Anyuan County, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, flowing southward for more than 500 kilometers and entering Hong Kong through the Dongshen Water Supply Project. Jiangxi and Guangdong, with their deep friendship for Hong Kong compatriots, remained steadfast in their determination to protect the clear waters of the river in the early 1960s. Gong Longshou, a 66 year old forest ranger from Sanbai Mountain in Anyuan County, Ganzhou City, has been guarding over 400000 acres of forest for 46 consecutive years, wearing over 100 pairs of shoes and covering a total of over 120000 kilometers of mountain patrols. In 46 years, there has never been a fire or pollution in the Three Hundred Mountains, "he proudly said. Yang Yougu, Secretary of the Anyuan County Party Committee, said that for 60 years, the people at the source of Dongjiang River have taken it as their responsibility to protect the water source. Forest logging, river fishing, and mineral mining have been banned, and more than 160 enterprises that pollute the environment have been closed and more than 340 investment projects that damage the environment have been rejected. The forest coverage rate of the entire county has remained at 83% throughout the year. The county's fiscal revenue decreases by at least 500 million yuan annually, but in return, the clear water of Dongjiang flows southward, which is worth it! Guangdong is the main watershed of Dongjiang. Chen Qinshui, a former cadre of Guangdong Second Hydropower Bureau, participated in the construction of the Dongshen Water Supply Project and subsequent multiple renovations and expansions. He still feels proud of the one-year completion of the project. At that time, there were many engineering projects, scattered locations, many typhoons and rainstorm, and the construction machinery was insufficient. The leaders, technicians, and workers shared weal and woe, creating many "world's best" and "China's best". To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong, the Development Bureau, Education Bureau, and Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government jointly organized a "Dongjiang Water Supply Exploration Tour" for students to visit the mainland. The first group was launched in February this year, with Cai Deye, Chief Chemist of the Hong Kong Water Supplies Department, and nearly 100 Hong Kong students from 7 secondary schools going to Shenzhen and Dongguan to carry out an exploration activity with the theme of "Connecting One Thread and Remembering the Source of Drinking Water". Zhang Kunjie and other students observed the raw water quality of Dongjiang River water intake in Dongguan Taiyuan Pump Station at a close distance, and also learned about the the Pearl River Delta water resources allocation project and water-saving measures. The blood ties between Hong Kong and the mainland are intertwined, and the mainland has made tremendous contributions to ensuring the quantity and quality of Dongjiang water supplied to Hong Kong. We will cherish water resources more and also understand the importance of remembering the source when drinking water, "said Ji Weiwen, Associate Researcher at the Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The stable water supply reflects the country's consistent care and support for Hong Kong, ensuring the needs of the people in Hong Kong, promoting social stability, and supporting the high-speed growth of the Hong Kong economy. In 60 years, it will still be as sweet as ever With the deepening of the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area and the acceleration of Hong Kong's integration into the national development plan, Dongshen Water Supply has entered a new stage of development, presenting a new story of more residents along the route jointly caring for the ecological environment. In recent years, the Ministry of Water Resources has continuously strengthened the unified scheduling of water resources in the Dongjiang River Basin, promoted standardized management of the Dongshen Water Supply Project, and ensured sufficient and high-quality water supply to Hong Kong. At the end of 2021, the Dongjiang River Basin experienced the most severe drought since 1961, but the water supply safety in the Greater Bay Area is still fully guaranteed. The Dongshen Water Supply Project, which has gone through 60 years of ups and downs, is also undergoing a "fully intelligent" upgrade and transformation in its daily operation mode. Li Yingchun, General Manager of Shenzhen Water Supply Management Department of Guangdong Guangdong Hong Kong Water Supply Co., Ltd., introduced that a "perception system" covering "sky, earth, and water", multimodal, and multi-dimensional has been established along the project line, and unmanned aerial vehicles, robots, unmanned ships and other equipment are providing "escort" for the project at all times. The Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is also taking advantage of the momentum of innovative technology development to establish a Digital Water Office in 2024, promoting the digitization of water supply services, improving service quality and energy efficiency. At the same time, the Water Supplies Department is strengthening exchanges and cooperation with mainland water supply agencies to establish a "Digital Water Bay Area". The significance of Dongjiang water has long gone beyond simple water supply. It witnesses the mutual trust in cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, and connects the vision of common development in the Greater Bay Area. During this year's two sessions of the National People's Congress, Huo Qigang, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that the Dongjiang Shenzhen water supply project reflects the country's great concern for the development of Hong Kong at all times. The 60th anniversary of the Dongjiang River water supply to Hong Kong is a good node to enhance patriotic education in Hong Kong. Since September last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has launched a series of promotional activities under the theme of "Connecting One Thread and Remembering the Source of Drinking Water" to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong. The Water Supplies Department is currently busy preparing for various commemorative activities, including the 60th anniversary commemoration ceremony of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong, the International Water Leaders Summit Forum, and large-scale installation art exhibitions. Chen Yuantong, a member of the Jiangxi Youth Association in Hong Kong, said that every drop of water reflects the country's tremendous support and continuous care for Hong Kong. We are grateful to our predecessors and the motherland, cherish the current life, and look forward to more Hong Kong youth entering the mainland, understanding the motherland, and jointly creating a better future. In 2024, Gong Longshou fulfilled his wish to visit Hong Kong and felt the enthusiasm of Hong Kong compatriots. In 60 years, it will still be as sweet as ever! "He sincerely said on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong this year. (New Society)