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WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1990
TERM
"SO TOTAL PREVENTION OF FLOODING IS NOT PRACTICAL AND THE LONG- STRATEGY IS
AIMED AT REDUCING THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF FLOODING, HE ADDED.
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MR BARNES SAID OTHER LONG-TERM MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDED THE DRAWING UP OF RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS BY THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO CONTROL LAND USE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.
"THE BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS WILL IDENTIFY THE FUNCTION OF STREAMCOURSES, THE CAPACITY OF FLOW WHICH THEY MUST MAINTAIN AND WORKS AND CONTROL NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THESE CAPACITIES MAINTAINED.
OF
MAIN
THE
ARE
BEING
THE
"DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR A LAND DRAINAGE ORDINANCE ARE PREPARED AND UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AN ASSESSMENT OF DRAINAGE IMPACT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WHICH IS LIABLE TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE DRAINAGE OF A BASIN," HE SAID.
MR BARNES ALSO NOTED THAT WATERCOURSE MAINTENANCE WAS CURRENTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. IT WOULD BE CENTRALISED WITH THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN ORDER TO ENSURE A CLEAR LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND A MORE EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE SERVICE.
"AS FOR CONTINGENCY MEASURES, THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS SET UP LAST YEAR, ALSO CO-ORDINATES FLOOD PREVENTION AND REMEDIAL ACTION AGAINST FLOODING."
IF FLOODING OCCURRED, MR BARNES SAID, THERE WERE PRACTICAL MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO RELEASE THE WATER. VILLAGES COULD TELEPHONE THE DISTRICT OFFICES OR THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR HELP. A MAINTENANCE GANG WOULD BE DESPATCHED TO THE AREA TO REMOVE MATERIALS FROM CULVERTS OR TO CLEAR BLOCKED DRAINS.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT IN A MAJOR FLOOD, SUCH AS WAS EXPERIENCED DURING TYPHOON BRENDA, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE THAT COULD BE
DONE.
"IN SUCH AN EVENT, THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, FIRE SERVICES ARE DEPLOYED TO EFFECT RESCUES AND THEY IN TURN MAY HAVE TO CALL IN THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND THEIR HELICOPTER
HE TEAMS," SAID.
MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON MAINTENANCE OF FLOODING BLACK SPOTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS SOMETHING LIKE $35 MILLION PER ANNUM.
THE WORKS INCLUDED ROUTINE INSPECTION OF SEWERS AND STORMWATER DRAINS AND CARRYING OUT CLEARANCE TO BLOCKAGES.
FROM NOVEMBER 1989 TO MAY 1990, NEW FLAPGATES HAD ALSO BBEN OR INSTALLED, PARTICULARLY IN THE YUEN LONG NULLAH AREA IN WHICH ALL PART OF 125 VILLAGES WOULD BE BENEFITTED, HE SAID.
MR BARNES NOTED THAT A TOTAL OF 197 BLACK SPOTS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED.
Q
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