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VEDNEL DAY, MY 6, 1987
THE ABSENCE OF PROPER PLANNING HAD MEANT THAT THE RURAL POPULATION HAD TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN A MUCH MORE HAPHAZARD FASHION THAN WAS DESIRABLE. THOUSANDS LIVED IN HOMES THAT WERE SUBJECT TO FLOODING, SHE ADDED.
MISS DUNN HOPED THAT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE WOULD GENERATE AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD FIRST, AND QUICKLY, LEAD TO AN ABATEMENT OF FLOODING RISKS. IT SHOULD THEN TACKLE ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS AR ISING FROM THE NEGLECT OF DEVELOPMENT REALITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
FLOOD CONTROL TEAM SHOULD BE SET UP *****
THE HON LAU WONG-FAT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP A FLOOD CONTROL TEAM TO PREVENT MAN-MADE FLOODING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON FLOODING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LAU SUGGESTED THAT CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DRAINAGE WORK IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS BEFORE COMMENCING WORK AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE.
HE SAID THAT ON COMPLETION OF THE DRAINAGE WORK, THE FLOOD CONTROL TEAM SHOULD CONDUCT AN INSPECTION AND ONLY THEN SHOULD CONSTRUCTION WORK BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED.
+THE FLOOD CONTROL TEAM MAY ALSO BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF ROADS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FLOOD CONTROL TEAM WOULD INEVITABLY INVOLVE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
+HOWEVER, WOULD IT NOT BE MORE ADVISABLE TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS FOR DEVISING PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAN TO FORK OUT SUMS OF MONEY IN COMPENSATION AFTER EACH FLOODING?+ HE QUESTIONED.
HE SAID THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MAN-MADE FLOODING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION TO PEOPLE'S LIFE AND PROPERTY.
HE SAID THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE NEW TOWNS, VAST AREAS OF LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE BEING DEVELOPED IN CONNECTION WITH VARIOUS PROJECTS.
AS A RESULT OF WORK AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, ELEVATION OF EMBANKMENTS WHEN CONSTRUCTING ROADS AND STORING BUILDING MATERIALS, THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS INADVERTENTLY ALTERED OR BLOCKED.
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