WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
16
CALL FOR URGENT MEASURES TO TACKLE FLOODING
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THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE URGENT REMEDIAL MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF FLOODING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS, THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH SAID TODAY WEDNESDAY).
MR TAI MADE THE CALL WHEN MOVING A MOTION FOR AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON FLOODING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID THE DAMAGE TO THE FARMING COMMUNITIES AND INDUSTRIES CAUSED BY FLOODING DURING THE MODERATE DOWNPOURS LAST MONTH WAS SEVERE AND VERY EXTENSIVE.
WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON AND THE APPROACH OF THE TYPHOON SEASON, HONG KONG COULD ANTICIPATE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BEING CAUSED BY FLOODING AS WELL AS DANGER TO LIFE, HE ADDED.
MR TAI POINTED OUT THAT FLOODING HAD LONG BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE RURAL AND LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE SAID OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAD BEEN FREQUENT FLOODING IN PAT HEUNG, TIN SHUM, LAU FAU SHA, HA TSUEN AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE RAINY SEASON, BUT LITTLE HAD BEEN DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASING IMBALANCE IN THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN FAVOUR OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND LESS AVAILABLE FOR RURAL RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY THE LIVING STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RURAL RESIDENTS HAD NOT BEEN MAINTAINED, BUT IN MANY CASES HAD DETERIORATED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, HE NOTED.
MR TAI ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, MUCH EXPERTISE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH ENVIORNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE WATER COURSES AND RIVERS HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN UNCERTAINTY AND SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHERE ACTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES LIE IN REGARD TO RECTIFYING THIS SITUATION.
+IN ORDER TO REMOVE THIS UNCERTAINTY AND ALLAY THE WORRIES AND FEARS OF THE RURAL RESIDENTS IN THE AFFECTED AREA THREATENED BY TORRENTIAL RAINS, IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES SHOULD NOW BE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH THE FLOODING PROBLEM,* HE SAID.
IN REGARD TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, MR TAI SAID THE EXISTING PRACTICE WAS THAT A SMALL INTEREST LOAN WOULD BE ADVANCED TO FARMER AFFECTED BY FLOODS AND A HANDOUT OF APPROXIMATELY $1 000 WOULD BE MADE TO LIVE-STOCK FARMERS.
HE FELT IF THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PRACTICE WAS TO ASSIST OR PROVIDE RELIEF TO AFFECTED FARMERS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW THE PRESENT AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE AS IT WAS TOO LIMITED AND TRULY
INADEQUATE.
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