XN000022-1992-05-13 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 199KE

INTO THE

WE ARE ALSO CARRYING OUT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION CAUSES OF THE LANDSLIP BEHIND BAGUIO VILLA AND ARE DRAWING UP DETAILED PLANS FOR THE REMEDIAL WORK NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE LONG STABILITY OF THE SLOPE. FULL INFORMATION ON BOTH WILL BE MADE AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE.

OUR WE

TERM

PUBLIC

ON

AND MIGHT

WE

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE CURRENT SITUATION SLOPE STABILISATION PROGRAMME. THIS PROGRAMME BEGAN IN 1976 HAVE PREPARED A CATALOGUE OF ABOUT 10,000 SLOPES WHICH REQUIRE STABILISATION WORKS. WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR INVESTIGATION WORK ON 4,300 OF THESE AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT ONLY 880 REQUIRED WORK. WORK ON 750 OF THESE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE INVESTIGATION PROGRAMME WILL PROCEED AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 1,000 EACH YEAR AND OF COURSE HAVE GIVEN PRIORITY TO THOSE WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO NEED WORK. HAVE ALSO GIVEN PRIORITY TO CLEARING ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE SLOPES SQUATTER AREAS AND ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE MADE IMPORTANT PROGRESS, 1982 WB ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 60,000 SQUATTERS WERE AT RISK POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE SLOPES. ALMOST ALL OF THESE AREAS CLEARED AND THE SQUATTERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ALTERNATIVE, HOUSING. WE NOW ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE FEWER THAN 2,000 REMAINING ON A SPECIALLY VULNERABLE TERRAIN AND ALL OF THESE WILL BE REHOUSED BY EARLY 1994 AT THE LATEST.

WE

IN

IN

FROM

HAVE BEEN

BETTER SQUATTERS PEOPLE

THE GOVERNMENT'S CATALOGUE OF SLOPES IS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE GEOTECHNICAL INFORMATION UNIT DEPARTMENT IS PLEASED TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

AND THE

MADE

IN CONCLUSION I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE ENORMOUS PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS. THE DAMAGE FROM LAST FRIDAY'S STORM IS PROOF THAT THE $1 BILLION OF PUBLIC LIMITED MONEY INVESTED IN SLOPE STABLISATION WORKS HAS BEEN WELL SPENT.

PROSPERITY AND GROWTH TO BE BUILT ON AIRPORT FOUNDATIONS

HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE NEXT CENTURY WILL BE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID THIS EVENING AT

(ACP), THE END OF A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND THE ACP.

A

"ΤΟ PROCEED CONFIDENTLY WITH THE ACP IS THE WAY TO ENSURE GROWING ECONOMY, AND WITH IT A GROWING ABILITY TO FUND SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE OTHER ITEMS WHICH WILL NOT JUST SAFEGUARD, BUT FURTHER IMPROVE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG," MR MACLEOD SAID.

"TO REFUSE TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE, TO OPPOSE CHANGE, OPT FOR STAGNATION AND DECLINE."

IS

ΤΟ

/MR MACLEOD