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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1993
GOVERNOR VISITS SHEUNG SHUI FLOODED AREAS
THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, VISITED HO SHEUNG HEUNG IN SHEUNG SHUI TODAY (MONDAY) TO SEE FOR HIMSELF SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE APPALLING FLOODING OVER THE WEEKEND.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE VISIT, THE GOVERNOR OFFERED HIS SYMPATHY TO THOSE WHO HAD SUFFERED LOSSES AND NOTED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNT.
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"IN THE MEDIUM TERM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET OUR LEGISLATION VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET EASIER ACCESS TO THE BORDER RIVER AND TO OTHER STREAMS AND RIVERS
ΤΟ MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE WATER MOVING AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE AND NOT FLOODING, HE SAID.
"BUT, THERE IS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WHICH WE REALLY GOT TO GBT ON WITH IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS SORT OF TRAGEDY HAPPENING AGAIN. AND THAT IS TO DEAL WITH THE FLOOD PREVENTION WORK ON THE BORDER RIVER.
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"IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. I AM PLEASED THAT AT WE'VE GOT THINGS AT THE PLANNING STAGE AND THE DESIGN STAGE."
HE HOPED THAT WORK ON THE $1.6 BILLION PROJECT COULD START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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"THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION IS THE ONE WE'VE GOT TO LOOK FOR SO ΤΟ AVOID THESE VILLAGERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM THESE PROBLEMS AGAIN, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID ONE OTHER SHORT-TERM ISSUE WHICH WAS OF IMPORTANCE TO MANY PEOPLE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS THAT THE EXISTING COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE APPLIED AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST A GREAT DEAL IN THE WAY OF POULTRY, FOODSTUFFS AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS,
ASKED ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITY OVER THE LONG-TERM MEASURE, MR PATTEN SAID: "DISCUSSIONS RESUMED LAST YEAR AND I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT AS A RESULT OF THAT, THINGS ARE NOW AT THE PLANNING AND DESIGN STAGE."
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"THE PRESENT INTENTION IS THAT WORK SHOULD ACTUALLY EARLY 1995. WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THAT EARLIER BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO GET THE PLANNING AND DESIGN WORK PROPERLY DONE.
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IN RESPONSE то A QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORT FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I AM SURE IT IS A PROJECT ON WHICH WE WILL ALL WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WHATEVER SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE PAST ON THIS ISSUE.
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"I AM DELIGHTED THAT THINGS ARE NOW GOING AHEAD PERFECTLY ADEQUATELY BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS WE CAN.
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THE GOVERNOR WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR FRED TING, AND THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR TIMOTHY TONG.
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