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(c)
Staff from Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Civil Engineering Department and Environmental Protection Department also had a joint site visit with the fishermen on October 16, 1996. The gills of a dying fish and the netcapes and floats showed no sign of any mud accumulation. Sampling undertaken on that day by Government indicated that water quality was satisfactory.
Since October 17, 1996, Civil Engineering Department has arranged to step up water quality monitoring frequency to daily at mid-ebb, mid- flood and in the evening. Monitoring will also be conducted at any time upon request from mariculturists. Agriculture and Fisheries Department has also stepped up patrols to the Fish Culture Zone in order to monitor the fish mortality situation. The numbers of dead fish actually observed in the fish cages during patrol inspections were relatively low despite mariculturists' claim that large quantity of fish had died since September.
The Administration have not seen any evidence to support the conclusion that the construction works at Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter have had an adverse effect on water quality at the Fish Culture Zone, the matter of compensation is therefore not relevant. However, under the existing arrangement, mariculturists will be eligible for an ex- gratia allowance when the concentration of suspended solids in the water reaches either 100% more than the highest pre-construction baseline level recorded at the Fish Culture Zone or 50mg/l (above which fish may exhibit inferior growth or be more susceptible to disease infection).
Public housing for elderly people
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Regarding the Government's plan to build 11,413 public rental units and refurbish 20,305 such units for elderly people between 1995/96 and 2000/01, will the Government inform this Council whether it is aware of: