XN000022-1980-03-28 — Page 9

8

·FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1980

SAI KUNG TO GET IMPROVED WATER SUPPLY

*****

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO EMBARK ON A $17.8 MILLION SCHEME TO IMPROVE WATER SUPPLIES IN SAI KUNG TO COPE WITH AN INCREASED POPULATION AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT.

WORK WILL START NEXT MONTH TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BRANCH TUNNEL FROM HIRAM'S HIGHWAY TO TAI SHU LAM, SAI KUNG, TO ENABLE SUFFICIENT WATER TO BE DRAWN OFF FROM THE HIGH" ISLAND TUNNEL SYSTEM TO BE TREATED AT A NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT, ALSO AT TAI SHU LAM

WORK ON THE PLANT WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR AND TAKE 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. IT WILL INCREASE THE EXISTING TREATED WATER SUPPLY BY 11 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY.

THE PROJECT WILL CATER FOR GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS WHEN A MAJOR TREATMENT PLANT IS TO BE COMMISSIONED.

A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT WITH CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF SAI KUNG, THE EXISTING WATER SUPPLY FROM THE NETWORK AT SAU MAU PING WAS BECOMING INADEQUATE.

+THE DEMAND FOR WATER SUPPLY HAS RAPIDLY RISEN TO A LEVEL WHERE, UNLESS FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE CARRIED OUT SOON, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUED DAILY SUPPLY TO THE DISTRICT BY THE SUMMER OF 1981,+ HE SAID.

AN ACCESS ROAD WILL ALSO BE BUILT ALONG THE TUNNEL AREA AS PART OF THE PROJECT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE RESUMPTION OF ABOUT 5 880 SQUARE METRES OF PRIVATE AGRICULTUKE LAND AT TAI SHU LAM, DETAILS WERE PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SINCE NO BUILDING LAND WAS INVOLVED, FAMILIES WOULD NOT BE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF RESUMPTION.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, TWO SMALL TEMPORARY PUMP HOUSES WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED,

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY COMPENSATION FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES, PINE TREES, FENCES, GRAVES AND BONE POTS, AS WELL AS EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES TO CULTIVATORS.

LAND OWNERS WILL BE OFFERED CASH COMPENSATION AT CURRENT RATES.