XN000022-1985-04-03 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935

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FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN EXPLAINED

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THE RECENT FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST WAS CAUSED BY THE BLOCKAGE OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE VICINITY, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, MR CHAN SAID THIS BLOCKAGE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS,

WITH THE EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT AND AN INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THIS AREA, THERE WAS A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE DEMAND PLACED ON THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM, WHICH WAS OLD.

OVER THE YEARS, MR CHAN SAID, THE BUILD-UP OF SOLID MATTERS ON THE INSIDE OF THE PIPES HAD FURTHER REDUCED THE CAPACITY OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

ADDITIONALLY, EXTENSIONS TO THE SYSTEM TO CATER FOR THE ALDRICH BAY RECLAMATION WORKS, CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, HAD DECREASED THE HYDRAULIC GRADIENT, THEREBY REDUCING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE GRAVITY FLOW.

ILLEGAL DUMPING AT THE OUTFALL PIPE AS A RESULT OF THE DISCHARGE INTO THE SEA,

TEMPORARY OUTFALL, AND DAMAGE TO THE SETTLEMENT WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTED HAD EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM OF BLOCK AGE.

MR CHAN SAID CLEARANCE OPERATIONS TO UNBLOCK THE PARTICULAR SECTION CAUSING FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST WERE IN HAND BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE AND THE FLOODING PROBLEM HAD FOR THE TIME BEING BEEN ALLEVIATED.

ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID, PLANS WERE IN HAND TO CONSTRUCT AN EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING DRAIN PIPE OF THE OUTFALL SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRAIN BEING BLOCKED BY ILLEGAL DUMPING OF RUBBISH.

THIS PROJECT WAS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, MR CHAN SAID.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT SUCH CLEARANCE OPERATIONS WERE BUT SHORT TERM MEASURES.

+THE BASIC PROBLEM OF THE OLD DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN LOW-LYING AREAS WILL REMAIN UNLESS LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS ARE INTRODUCED, + HE SAID.

/THE LONGER