THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1977
THE COMMITTEE MAY CALL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE IT REQUIRES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND FROM ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR FROM ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE BODY.
THE COMMITTEE AIMS TO PUBLISH ITS BROAD PROPOSALS AT THE END OF MAY THIS YEAR FOLLOWING WHICH THE PUBLIC WILL BE GIVEN A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS UNTIL AUGUST 1 IN WHICH TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS.
AFTER THAT THE COMMITTEE HOPES TO BE IN A POSITION TO SUBMIT ITS FINAL PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1977.
GOVERNOR SEES REMEDIAL WORKS ON FILL SLOPES
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY VISITED A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING AREAS TO SEE PROGRESS ON REMEDIAL WORKS BEING CARRIED OUT ON FILL SLOPES FOLLOWING THE SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE REPORTS PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SIR MURRAY WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, AND MR. BRYAN O'RORKE, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEER APPOINTED TO SET UP THE NEW P.W.D. OFFICE WHICH WILL ACT AS A +WATCHDOG+ OVER THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL SLOPES IN HONG KONG.
DURING THE TOUR, SIR MURRAY WAS BRIEFED ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE CRASH REMEDIAL PROGRAMME BEING UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE SLOPES BEFORE THE COMING WET SEASON.
THE $30 MILLION PROGRAMME INCLUDES MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION WORK, AND THE RECOMPACTING OF THE SURFACE OF 11 SLOPES IN NINE PUBLIC HOUSING AREAS TO THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS SET BY THE INTERNATIONAL PANEL OF EXPERTS - AS WELL AS A RANGE OF MORE GENERAL WORKS SUCH AS DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
SIR MURRAY SAID AFTER HIS TOUR THAT HE CONSIDERED THAT THE WORK ON THE SLOPES WAS PROCEEDING +EXTREMELY SATISFACTORILY+.
+WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO GET THESE SLOPES RIGHT BEFORE THE HEAVY RAINS COME, HE SAID.
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