REPLY:
(C)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994
12
WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED, MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS WELL BEFORE ANY RECLAMATION WORKS ARE TO COMMENCE IN THE FUTURE?
MR PRESIDENT,
THE
OF
SCALE ASSUMPTION RECLAMATIONS AVOID REDUCING
THE HONOURABLE MEMBER SUGGESTS THAT THE DRAINAGE CAPACITY EXISTING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REDUCED AS A RESULT OF LARGE RECLAMATION WORKS BEING CARRIED OUT IN WEST KOWLOON. THIS IS NOT CORRECT, SINCE THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE
ALL TIME BEEN PREDICATED BY THE NEED TO HAS AT EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
THE
THE
PROBLEM OF EXISTING DRAINAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE HOWEVER,
DRAINAGE PIPES AND CHANNELS IN THE WEST WERE BUILT MANY YEARS AGO, THEY ARE DETERIORATING, AND HAVE INADEQUATE
EVEN TO CATER FOR INCREASING URBANIZATION. CAPACITY
IN WEST
ARE KOWLOON, THESE AREAS RECLAMATION WORKS
UNDER EXCEPTIONALLY
RAINFALL HEAVY
SUCH FLOODING EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.
KOWLOON
ACCOUNT.
AREAS
WITHOUT THE AT RISK OF AS WE HAVE
WHEN
THE
THE
THE
THE BEFORE THE FOLLOWED AND LEAST
THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED, PROBLEM OF THE EXISTING DRAINAGE CAPACITY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF RECLAMATION WAS NOT IGNORED OR UNDERESTIMATED. THE EFFECT OF PROJECT ON THE EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN 1990 IN
WELL RECLAMATION FEASIBILITY STUDY, WEST KOWLOON COMMENCEMENT OF THE RECLAMATION. DETAILED STUDIES THEN ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS WERE DEVISED. THE AIM WAS TO MAINTAIN AT
OF
THE EXISTING CAPACITY
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
WHERE AND, CONDITIONS PERMITTED, TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY WAS FURTHER. THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR THESE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKS AWARDED THREE YEARS AGO, AND BEFORE THE NEXT RAINY SEASON ARRIVES, LARGE PART OF THESE WORKS WILL BE COMPLETE THUS REDUCING THE RISK SERIOUS FLOODING IN THESE AREAS.
THE
SITE
A
OF
THE CONSULTANCY STUDY REFERRED TO BY THE HONOURABLE MEMBER THAT
PROBLEMS JUNE THIS YEAR IS SEPARATE FROM THE
ASSOCIATED STARTED IN WITH RECLAMATION WORKS. IT IS AN INVESTIGATION, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT WORKS BEING PROPOSED TO BRING THE WHOLE OF THE OLD SYSTEM UP TO MODERN STANDARDS. WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER
INVESTIGATIONS SIMILAR
PARTS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN OTHER
OF THE DRAINAGE TERRITORY AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
OF
FINALLY, PRESIDENT MAY I SAY THAT GOVERNMENT HAS GAINED
PROJECTS. VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FROM THE RECENT LARGE-SCALE RECLAMATION LET US REMEMBER, DURING THESE FEW YEARS OF PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENTS TOTAL AREA RECLAIMED AMOUNTS TO AN INCREASE OF SOME 35% ASSESSING THE ALL PREVIOUS RECLAMATIONS. OUR TECHNIQUES FOR DRAINAGE IMPACT OF A RECLAMATION PROJECT ON ITS SURROUNDING AREA BEEN IMPROVING, ALONG WITH OUR ASSESSMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS. LEARNING FROM THE RESULTS THUS FAR MEASURES TO COUNTERACT SUCH ADVERSE IMPACTS WILL BE UTILISED IN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
HAVE
AND
APPROPRIATE
EVERY
THANK YOL.
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