LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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'Community Map on Internet' project will enable the public to search for information on matters such as dining, shopping, entertainment, property, public facilities and transport routes, all referenced to an up-to-date map base and stored in web sites. developed by the business partners.
The SMO also encourages and facilitates private companies to use its maps as reference base for developing geographical information system applications for commercial purposes. Several companies have shown keen interest in the office's digital maps and produced some marketable packages. The office will continue to enhance the quality and content of the digital map database as well as to explore more efficient ways of disseminating and exploiting the map data.
Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy
The Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (RPIS) is a coherent strategy for improving the rural areas of the New Territories through infrastructural development and environmental improvement.
The RPIS minor works programme has come under the management of the Home Affairs Department since 1994. To capitalise on the established local liaison network, the department introduced a two-tier administrative structure consisting of the RPIS Minor Works Steering Committee and the District Working Groups. The Steering Committee, attended by representatives of the Heung Yee Kuk and the New Territories District Councils (NTDCs), oversees the general implementation of the programme and offers advice to help expedite it. The District Working Groups, attended by representatives of the NTDCs and the 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 Drainage Services Department (DSD) is focusing its effort on improving the drainage systems and alleviating flood risks in the three flood-prone areas North- Western New Territories (NWNT), Northern New Territories (NNT) and the West Kowloon areas. Flood prevention projects in NWNT and NNT, with a value of around $7 billion, are at various stages of planning, design and construction. Most of the projects are river training works and include widening, deepening and straightening of existing watercourses.
In the NWNT, improvement works to some 10 kilometres of the lower reaches of the Kam Tin River and the Shan Pui River in Yuen Long have already been completed. Construction of a nine-kilometre drainage channel for the mid-streams of the Kam Tin River and the Ngau Tam Mei drainage channel started in 1999. Design work for another 23 kilometres of new river channels is under way, including the Yuen Long bypass floodway, the upper reaches of Kam Tin River, and the Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin drainage channels.