WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
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MEASURES TO PREVENT FLOODING OUTLINED
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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) OUTLINED THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT TAKES TO PREVENT FLOODING IN LOW-LYING URBAN AREAS ON THE APPROACH OF RAINY SEASON EACH YEAR.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID: +JUST PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF THE RAINY SEASON EACH YEAR AN INSPECTION AND CLEARANCE OPERATION IS CARRIED OUT ON ALL DRAINAGE INSTALLATIONS AND A STEPPED-UP CLEARANCE PROGRAMME IS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.+
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, EVEN WITH THESE PRECAUTIONS LOCAL FLOODING COULD STILL OCCUR UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS IF BLOCKAGES WERE CREATED BY RUBBISH DEPOSITED IN ROADWAYS BETWEEN CLEARANCES.
SPECIALIST GANGS OPERATING ON A 24-HOUR STAND-BY WOULD DEAL PROMPTLY WITH ALL REPORTS OF FLOODING.
TURNING TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE SAFETY OF HILLSIDE SQUATTERS, MR. MCDONALD SAID: +AT THE START OF THE WET SEASON, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES RELEASES TO THE MEDIA A STATEMENT EMPHASISING THE DANGERS BROUGHT BY HEAVY RAINS AND GIVING INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF REFUGE CENTRES.
+WHEN A PERIOD OF EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY AND PROLONGED RAINFALL IS FORECAST G.I.S. WILL ISSUE THE FORECAST INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, WARNING OF THE INCREASED RISK OF LANDSLIDES AND ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THE REFUGE CENTRES.
HE ADDED THAT DURING ROUTINE VISITS TO SQUATTER AREAS. CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF WOULD ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS OF THE AREAS WERE FULLY INFORMED AND FAMILIAR WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS AND THE LOCATION OF REFUGE CENTRES.
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