XN000022-1982-06-23 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1982

THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT COMPRISES THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, MASS TRANSIT OFFICE AND, UNTIL THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION IS FORMED ON JANUARY 1, NEXT YEAR, THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

THESE OFFICES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS INCLUDING THE PUBLIC ROAD SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED LIGHTING AND DRAINAGE WORKS. THEY WILL ALSO MONITOR AND COORDINATE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PUBLIC WORKS GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ELECTRIFICATION AND DUAL TRACKING OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.

+ THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT -- WHICH HAS FIVE BRANCHES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, PURIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POTABLE WATER TO CONSUMERS.

+ITS WORK COVERS THE WHOLE PROCESS FROM THE COLLECTION OF NATURAL YIELD FROM RAINFALL, OR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER BY DESALINATION, TO THE PROVISION OF A SUPPLY WITH A QUALITY OF ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS TO THE WATER TAPS IN HOMES.

+ IT ALSO SUPPLIES SEA WATER FOR FLUSHING PURPOSES,

MR CHAN SAID.

THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONS I BLE FOR THE PLANNING AND OVERALL CO-ORDINATION OF THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SEVEN NEW TOWNS AND A NUMBER OF RURAL TOWNSHIPS

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ITS ROLE IS ESSENTIALLY ONE OF MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THE TIMELY PROVISION OF THE WHOLE RANGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY FOR THE CREATION OF BALANCED COMMUNITIES AND TO MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING TARGET.

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THE NEWLY-CREATED LANDS DEPARTMENT IS STAFFED BY OFFICERS PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED IN LAND ADMINISTRATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, TOWN PLANNING OFFICE AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S LAND OFFICE.

THE BASIC AIM OF THIS DEPARTMENT IS TO OPERATE, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL TO ENABLE DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN LOCALLY BUT WITH A STRONG HEADQUARTERS TO PROVIDE CO-ORDINATION, TO GUIDE AND MONITOR LAND WORK AND TO ENSURE THAT LAND ADMINISTRATION POLICY IS CONSTANTLY REVIEWED.

MR CHAN SAID THE GREATEST BENEFITS TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WERE THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES, THE GOVERNMENT'S ORGANISATION WAS STRONGER AND BETTER ABLE TO INFLUENCE POLICY, THE CREATION OF INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMOUS DEPARTMENTS MEANT CLOSER AND MORE DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

IT ALSO MEANT GREATER EFFICIENCY, SPEEDIER DECISION MAKING AND MORE FLEXIBILITY WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORK PROGRAMME.

IS