$5.
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Since mid 1973 action has been taken to improve the
efficiency of the drainage system. The removal of refuse
and silt from open ditches has since last year been carried
out twice daily. In April 1973, & pump house was installed
at the lowest point of Sai Tau Village to pump out storm
water during heavy rain, thus improving the flow of the
drainage system at the time of greatest need. U.S.D. has
recorded in a memorandom to the Secretary of Security dated 6th November 1973 that during heavy rainfall in 1973,
there was no serious choking of the open ditches and that
this was a "sharp contrast to 1972 when the lower parts of the Walled City (i.e. Sai Tau Village) were flooded on
several occasions."
26.
27.
C.D.0.(KC) has also put in train threc projects which include, the building of a second pump house to further increase the flow during rainstorms, the complete desilting of the larger drains in Sai Tau Village so that the normal flow could be increased, and the construction of 16 gratings at strategic points of the drainage system serving the entire area of the Walled City and Sai Tau Village. On full implementation of these improvements, the drainage system should be able to handle a much better normal flow, plus the capability to handle a major rainstorm.
Turning to the 5 main trenches in the Walled City, C.D.0.(KC) has found that certain parts had since last year been covered by new buildings. There is very little that could be done within these covered portions. The best course now available to us is to take preventative measures, that is to ensure that they are not choked by building debris, silt, or refuse. This will necessitate a much higher standard of upkeep for the open portions of these main trenches, entailing more frequent flushing and clearance. However, the physical state of the main trenches and the lack of a water supply in the Walled City make frequent flushing and clearance extremely difficult, and time-consuming.
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