WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978
14
METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS
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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS ON A WIDER BASIS.
HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR. WONG HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL METERED WATER SUPPLY TO SQUATTER HOUSEHOLDS SO AS TO IMPROVE THEIR SANITARY CONDITIONS.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT INDIVIDUAL METERING HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED AT MA HANG VILLAGE AND WAS PRESENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A DIAMOND HILL VILLAGE.
+THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, IS NOW CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING METERED SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS ON A WIDER BASIS, + HE SAID.
+THE ADEQUACY OF DISTRICT SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF EXTENDING THEM IN THE CONGESTED AND HAPHAZARD CONDITIONS WHICH EXIST IN SQUATTER AREAS IS BEING ASSESSED. +
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT A PRELIMINARY SURVEY HAD INDICATED THAT THE INSTALLATION OF ABOUT 40,000 METERS WOULD BE REQUIRED WHICH APPROXIMATED TO THE TOTAL ANNUAL METER INSTALLATION PROGRAMME.
HE SAID THAT IT WOULD, THEREFORE, BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAMME OF IMPLEMENTATION WITH AN ORDER OF PRIORITY AND TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF OUTSIDE PLUMBING AGENCIES TO SUPPLEMENT THE RESOURCES OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SO THAT A SCHEME MIGHT BE INTRODUCED WITHIN A REASONAELE PERIOD OF TIME.
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