XN000022-1978-07-10 — Page 5

MONDAY, JULY 10, 1978

IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMPROVE THE EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING WATER FROM EAST RIVER.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. TOM TOMLINSON, TODAY SAID: +AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SCHEME JNVOLVES THE LAYING OF A 1,600 MILLIMETRE DIAMETER PIPELINE ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING TWIN 1,200 MILLIMETRE DIAMETER PIPELINE BETWEEN THE MUK WU AND RIVER INDUS PUMPING STATIONS.

+ALSO PROVIDED WILL BE ALTERNATING LENGTHS OF 2,000 MILLIMETRE DIAMETER PIPELINE AND TUNNELS BETWEEN THE PUMPING STATION AND THE EXISTING INTAKE POINT AND TUNNEL SOUTH OF NAM CHUNG, WHICH DISCHARGES INTO THE PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AT CHUNG MEI.+

THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS IN THE REGION OF $10 MILLION, HE SAID, ADDING THAT ENGINEERING WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START NEXT MONTH.

THE NEW PIPELINE BETWEEN MUK WU AND THE PUMPING STATION IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE OCTOBER NEXT YEAR, WHILE THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL TAKE 24 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

MR. TOMLINSON SAID THE PIPELINE BETWEEN MUK WU AND THE PUMPING STATION MEASURES 2.9 KILOMETRES. PARTS OF THE PIPELINE WILL REST ON PILES AND PIERS.

THE ALTERNATING LENGTHS OF THE 2,000 MM DIAMETER PIPELINE AND TUNNELS MEASURE ABOUT TEN KILOMETRES.

+ THE COMBINED CAPACITY OF THE THREE PIPELINES IS 553,000 CUBIC METRES OF WATER PER DAY, HE SAID.

TO FACILITATE THE WORK ON THE PROJECT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME A TOTAL OF 77,190 SQUARE METRES OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SHEUNG SHUI AND FAN LING AREAS. ONE MONTH'S NOTICE OF THE LAND RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN LAST FRIDAY'S (JULY,7) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, SAID THE RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 43 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OCCUPIED BY 32 FAMILIES. OF THE 43 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, 22 ARE ON CROWN LAND.

IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 175 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES INCLUDING A SHOP, WORKSHOPS AQUARIUM, PIGSTIES AND POULTRY SHEDS WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

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DEPENDING ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING OR TEMPORARY PUBLIC HOUSING IN FAN LING, MR. OXLEY SAID.

GENUINE CULTIVATOR FAMILIES MAY OPT FOR A RESITE ALONG WITH AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000, BUT WILL FORFEIT THE IR PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND WILL BE OFFERED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION, HE ADDED.

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