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HK Govt Speeds Up Anti-flooding Works
The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will try its best to improve flood prevention and related works to bring relief to affected villagers, S S Lee, the secretary for works said Thursday evening.
Speaking at a motion debate on flooding in the Legislative Council, Lee committed to tightening up monitoring of the progress of anti-flooding works and of site supervision.
The government will also beef up control on illegal land use in the New Territories to reduce its likely impact on aggravating flooding situations. To date, the government has successfully prevented a total of 690 hectares of land from turning into illegal uses.
Lee said that a task force set up recently would review the flood prevention program and look at ways to ensure progress of flood prevention projects and to alleviate the flooding problems in the interim.
"The government has been very concerned about flooding and has since early 90's committed significant resources to tackle the problem in the New Territories," he added.
The government has already completed works worth about 3 billion HK dollars in the downstream sections of major rivers and channels, providing initial relief to flooding.
"As a result, tens of thousands of residents in the flood prone areas such as in the vicinity of Tin Shui Wai, Shan Pui River in Yuen Long and Lo Wu have been relieved of flooding risks. It can be demonstrated that the flood extent has been notably reduced and the floodwater has receded quickly after the flooding," the secretary noted.
The government is now actively carrying out river training works worth about 2 billion HK dollars (0.26 billion U.S. dollars) in the midstream sections of the major rivers in the New Territories including Kam Tin River in Yuen Long, and River Beas and River Indus in Sheung Shui.
Upon their completion in or before 2003, the secretary said the flooding situation in the New Territories would be significantly improved.
Furthermore, various drainage improvement projects are under active planning and design. These projects include Yuen Long floodway bypass, San Tin eastern channel and Shenzhen River Regulation Project Stage III.
Before construction to start on site, Mr. Lee said more time would be needed to complete the public consultation, land resumption and clearance, assessments of environmental, traffic and utilities impacts and all necessary statutory procedures.
In addition to major drainage projects, the government has also implemented local drainage improvements and preventive maintenance measures to maintain a smooth flow of river courses in the New Territories. Debris removed from the river courses in each year is up to 110,000 cubic meters.
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