XN000022-1980-01-01 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1980

SIXTY YEARS OF LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS IN THE NT

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FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS IN 1919, THE GOVERNMENT'S LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS (LPW) PROGRAMME HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.

SIXTY YEARS AGO, WHEN THE PROGRAMME WAS LAUNCHED, THE BUDGET WAS ONLY $5 000.

DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, IT IS MORE THAN $8 MILLION,

THE PROGRAMME, WHICH IMPROVES THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF VILLAGERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMIN TRATION.

PROJECTS LAUNCHED UNDER THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VILLAGE ROADS, VILLAGE SCHOOLS, PAVEMENTS, BRIDGES, PIERS, INCINERATORS, REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS, LATRINES, INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICITY GENERATORS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS,

MORE SOPHISTICATED PROJECTS, SUCH AS BUILDING OF PLAYGROUNDS, RECREATIONAL HALL LIBRARIES AND VILLAGE HALLS, ARE ALSO UNDER- TAKEN.

AMONG THE PROJECTS FOR 1979/80 ARE:

* A FOOTBRIDGE ON PO TOI ISLAND (COSTING $61 000)•

* A 1 260-METRE FOOTPATH BETWEEN FAN LAU AND YI O

ON LANTA (COSTING $165 000)-

* A COMMUNAL BATHROOM ON CHEUNG CHAU (COSTING

$70 000

* A YOUTH CENTRE AT HO SHEUNG HEUNG, SHEUNG SHUI

(COSTING 171 000)- AND

* A RECREATIONAL CENTRE AT TSING LUNG TAU, TSUEN

WAN (COST NG $150 000).

SINCE 1977 THE LPW PROGRAMME HAS INCLUDED INSTALLATION OF VILLAGE LIGHTING,

THIS FINANCIAL YEAR 497 STREET LAMPS WITH ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES OF UNDERGROUND CABLE WILL BE INSTALLED AT A COST OF $1.6 MILLIONT

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 548 STREET LAMPS WERE INSTALLED WITH 35 KILOMETRES OF UNDERGROUND CABLE AT A COST OF $1,75 MILLION.

VILLAGE LIGHTING SCHEMES WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE OVERALL ROAD LIGHTING PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,

THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HAS REORGANISED AND EXPANDER ITS WORKS SECTION TO DEAL WITH INCREASING DEMANDS ON THE LPW PROGRAMME.

/HEADED BY .m