[Original Reclaiming Public Water book edited by Belén Balanyá, Brid Brennan, Olivier Hoedeman, Satoko Kishimoto and Philipp Terhorst, Transnational Institute and Corporate Europe Observatory. This is Susan George’s introduction to the Chinese edition of the book.] The new chapter by the Hong Kong [Government Waterworks Professionals Association] tells an old story. The private sector is currently singing its siren song to the public authorities - "…we will supply better service with greater efficiency": people all over the world have heard this song before and they have learned it is a lie. This book documents the extent of that lie. Throughout the world, privatisation has, in every sector and everywhere it has been tried, led to higher prices, lower quality, less efficiency and a total lack of interest in customers of modest means unable to pay premium rates. Until recently water has been a public monopoly, and for good reason: private control of it has led to predictable lay-offs for workers, salary hikes for managers, rising prices and poorer quality water for the majority of people.