6
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1993
BILL INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE WATERCOURSE MAINTENANCE
*
THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INTRODUCING A BILL TO MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING WATERCOURSES IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SEEKS
THE LAND DRAINAGE BILL 1993 WHICH WAS GAZETTED
TO GAIN THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ AUTHORISE WATERCOURSES WHICH PASS THROUGH, OR ARE SURROUNDED TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN SUCH WATERCOURSES.
DEAL THE
TODAY (FRIDAY)
TO THE ACCESS
MAIN BY, PRIVATE LAND
THAT OWING TO LAND
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED USE CHANGES AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT WATERCOURSES BOTH ON GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE LAND OBSTRUCTED, RESULTING IN MORE SERIOUS FLOODS IN RECENT YEARS.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, NATURAL WERE SILTED UP OR
GOVERNMENT'S
EFFORTS TO
MAINTAIN THE ACCESS то
THE NEVERTHELESS, WATERCOURSES HAD BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE PROBLEM OF GAINING THEM THROUGH PRIVATE LAND.
ΤΟ
"IF ENACTED, THE BILL WILL ENHANCE THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY
OF THE MAIN CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS AND IMPROVE THE HYDRAULIC CAPACITIES
THE SPOKESMAN SAID. WATERCOURSES, THUS REDUCING THE RISK OF FLOODING,
WATERCOURSE WORKS THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT WHILE THE
DAMAGE TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT WERE NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE
FOR CONTAINS TO
LAND
BILL STILL OWNERS, THE COMPENSATION IF THE WORKS CAUSED DAMAGE TO LAND OR BUILDINGS,
THE
PROVISIONS
PROVIDED UNDER THE ROADS
THE PROVISIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE (CAP. 370).
IN THE EVENT THAT SETTLEMENT CANNOT CLAIMANT AND THE GOVERNMENT, THE CASE MAY TRIBUNAL FOR A DECISION.
BE REACHED BETWEEN THE BE REFERRED TO THE LAND
THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE SETTING UP OF (DA) AND A DRAINAGE APPEAL BOARD (DAB).
A DRAINAGE AUTHORITY
WOULD BE THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DIRECTOR OF DRAINAGE SERVICES
TO PREPARE DRAFT DA AREA THE DA, AND THE BILL WOULD PERMIT THE DA
WOULD BE
AND DESIGNATED,
ΤΟ PLANS, ON EXECUTE DRAINAGE WORKS WITHIN THOSE WATERCOURSES.
WHICH MAIN
WATERCOURSES
THE DAB PANEL WILL COMPRISK
BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE
BOARD
WILL
NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS APPOINTED HEAR AND DETERMINE REVIEWS
AND
APPRALS LODGED BY THE PUBLIC AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION OF THE DA.
CARRY OUT, IN A
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES THAT NO PERSON SHALL MAIN WATERCOURSE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE DA, ENGINEERING WORK WHICH OBSTRUCTS THE FLOW OF THE WATERCOURSE.
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