WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1977
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+EXAMPLES ARE THE COVERING UP OF FOOD AND WASTE FOOD MATTER, THE ELIMINATION OF HOLLOW SPACES AND PROVIDING GRATINGS OVER
DRAINPIPES.
+LATER THIS YEAR A SPECIAL PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN WILL BE LAUNCHED ON THE BEST MEANS OF PREVENTING AND ELIMINATING PESTS IN DOMESTIC PREMISES, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE SITUATION IN KWAI SHING WAI, MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT RATS, COCKROACHES AND OTHER VERMIN CAN MULTIPLY RAPIDLY WHERE THERE IS FOOD AND HARBOURAGE FOR THEM.
+THIS AREA HAS UNFORTUNATELY PROVIDED VERY FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS TO ENCOURAGE RATS TO BREED AND FLOURISH, HE SAID.
PLUGGING WATER LEAKS
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THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAD TO REPAIR AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 10 BURST WATER MAINS A WEEK, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS MR. DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+LEAKS AND BURSTS GENERALLY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF DISTURBANCE BY WORKINGS ON OTHER SERVICES CLOSE TO MAINS, VIBRATION OCCASIONED BY CONSTRUCTION WORKS OR HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC, OR GROUND SUBSIDENCE+, MR. MCDONALD ADDED IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION.
+ THE TIME WHICH ELAPSES BEFORE THE FLOW FROM A BURST IS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL USUALLY VARIES FROM 30 TO 60 MINUTES DEPENDING ON THE DISTANCE FROM THE DEPOT AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME,+
MR. MCDONALD WAS ASKED BY THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING, ABOUT MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT LOSS OF WATER OCCURRING FROM LEAKAGE OR BREAKAGE IN UNDERGROUND WATER MAINS.
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+THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT. + MR. MCDONALD SAID +HAS STAND-BY STAFF ON 24-HOUR DUTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO DEAL WITH BURST MAINS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES+,
HE ALSO SAID THAT +CONSIDERABLE CARE IS EXERCISED IN LAYING WATER MAINS INCLUDING THE PREPARATION OF PROPER FOUNDATIONS, CAREFUL BACK FILLING AND CONSOLIDATION AND PRESSURE TESTS.+
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THE WATER PIPES THEMSELVES ARE WORKS PRESSURE TESTED TO TWICE THE IR NORMAL WORKING PRESSURE.
+THEY HAVE A SERVICE LIFE OF UP TO 50 YEARS. IT IS THEREFORE RARE THAT A BURST OCCURS DUE TO AGE OR FAULTY MATERIALS, + HE SAID.
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