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Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation
The majority of major flood protection works in the New Territories have been completed, including about 97.5 kilometres of trained rivers, about 23.5 kilometres of storm-water drains. and 27 village floodwater pumping schemes, substantially reducing the risk of flooding in the New Territories. The department has started the planning, design and construction of improvement works to about 23 kilometres of rivers and about 14 kilometres of storm-water drains in the northern New Territories. The flood prevention level in these regions will be further enhanced upon completion of these works.
Completed major flood protection works in the urban areas include the Lai Chi Kok Drainage Tunnel and the Hong Kong West Drainage Tunnel. To reduce further the flooding risk in urban areas, the department is working on the construction of the Tsuen Wan Drainage Tunnel, the Kai Tak River improvements and the Happy Valley Underground Storm-water Storage Scheme. These projects, when completed in phases from 2013 to 2018, will further reduce the risk of flooding in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Central Kowloon, Wan Chai and Happy Valley districts.
Under a preventive maintenance programme, the department continues to carry out inspection, de-silting and repair works for drainage systems. In 2012, over 2,130 kilometres of drains and watercourses were inspected and about $125 million was spent on maintenance work.
Nullah Improvement Works
The improvement works of Fuk Man Road Nullah and Tai Hang Nullah, completed in June and September respectively, have not only eradicated the odour problem arising from the nullahs but also provided unique leisure space to the respective districts.
The DSD has commenced the detailed design of the Stage 1 Improvement Works for the Yuen Long Town Centre Nullah, scheduled for completion by the end of 2013.
Slope Safety
The Civil Engineering and Development Department's comprehensive slope protection effort has brought about a substantial improvement in slope safety by improving standards and technology, ensuring the safety of new man-made slopes, improving the safety of existing man-made slopes, mitigating natural terrain landslide risk, and issuing public warnings, providing information, education and community advisory services on slope safety.
A long-term Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP) deals with landslide risk by systematically upgrading man-made slopes and mitigating the risk from natural hillside. catchments with a known history of landslides close to existing buildings and important transport corridors. About $1 billion was spent under the LPMitP in 2012 to improve slope safety. Upgrading works for 153 sub-standard government man-made slopes and mitigation. works for 28 natural hillside catchments were completed, all landscaped to blend in with their surroundings. Safety screening studies were completed on 107 private man-made slopes. In 2012, the department also provided assistance and advisory services to help private slope owners better maintain their slopes.
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