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implementation of the programme and offers advice to help expedite it. The District Working Groups, attended by representatives of NTPDBs and Rural Committees, identify and prioritise local improvement needs and assist in resolving local objections to the proposed projects under the programme. This structure provides stronger local participation in the improvement of rural areas.
The Territory Development Department continues to implement the major improvement works, such as river training and village flood protection works, either through agent departments or consultants.
Drainage Services
Flood Prevention
The DSD is focusing on the enhancement of drainage systems in three flood-prone areas North-West New Territories (NWNT), Northern New Territories (NNT) and West Kowloon areas.
Drainage improvement projects in NWNT and NNT valued at some $6 billion are at various stages of planning, design and construction. Most of the projects are river training works which include the widening, deepening and straightening of the existing watercourses.
In the NWNT, construction works on improvement of some 10 kilometres of the lower reaches of the Kam Tin River and the Shan Pui River in Yuen Long were completed at the end of 1998. These works will bring significant relief to flooding problems in Yuen Long Town and low-lying areas along the Kam Tin River. The works completed so far have already relieved flood problems. Design work for another 24 kilometres of new river channels are under way, including the upper reaches of Kam Tin River, Ngau Tam Mei drainage channel and San Tin drainage channel.
In the NNT, the most critical flood mitigation project is the Shenzhen River Regulation Project which will improve the downstream outlet for many major waterways in the area, such as the Indus and Beas rivers. Stage I of the project was completed in 1997. Stage II works are now in full swing and scheduled for completion by 2000. Planning for Stage III works is already in hand, with construction scheduled for 2001. Works in the Indus and Beas rivers will start shortly so that the programme will match the Stage II works of the Shenzhen River Regulation Project. On completion, these river-training works will provide high flood protection for the neighbouring communities.
Associated village flood protection schemes are built to protect particular low-lying villages that are below the nearby drainage channels. The schemes provide an earth bund around the village and collect water in a flood storage pond for pumping into the drainage channels outside the bund. To date, 16 schemes have been completed. Three schemes for San Tin, Chau Tau and Sha Po are in progress and another eight are at various stages of planning and design.
On West Kowloon, in particular the Mong Kok area, a comprehensive programme for upgrading the drainage system is under way. Stage I works began in early 1998 to upgrade the critical sections of the drainage system. Although the entire Stage I will be completed in 2002, the DSD has advanced the installation of two major drains aiming to provide an initial relief to the flooding situation in the Mong Kok area.