XN000022-1993-04-01 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1993

CONTRACT SIGNED FOR HUNG HOM DRAINAGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

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THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) SIGNED A $33.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR IMPROVING THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN HUNG HOM.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED AT A CEREMONY BY THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT), MR CHUNG KWOK-LEUNG, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONTRACTOR, LEADER CIVIL ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED.

THE WORKS UNDER THE CONTRACT WILL COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION

OF ABOUT 1,200 METRES OF STORMWATER DRAINS WITH SIZES RANGING FROM 1,500MM TO 2,100MM IN DIAMETER, AS WELL AS THE REINSTATEMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROADS AFFECTED BY THE WORKS.

THE DRAIN WILL START FROM THE JUNCTION OF GASCOIGNE ROAD AND JORDAN ROAD AND ROUTE ALONG JORDAN ROAD, CHI WO STREET, CHEONG LOK STREET, NING PO STREET, WOOSUNG STREET AND BACK TO JORDAN ROAD ACROSS CANTON ROAD TO THE JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER.

MR CHUNG NOTED THAT THE WORKS WOULD BEGIN AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAY, AND THAT THE EXISTING OVERLOADED DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN HUNG HOM AREA WOULD BE RELIEVED AND THE RISK OF FLOODING REDUCED WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETED IN JULY 1995.

'THE STORMWATER DRAIN WILL DIVERT THE STORMWATER COLLECTED IN KING'S PARK CATCHMENT AREA FROM THE EXISTING HUNG HOM DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO A NEW OUTFALL NEAR JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER,' HE SAID.

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BETTER SERVICES FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS * * * * *

ANNOUNCED

THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ITS PERFORMANCE PLEDGE THAT WILL IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RATEPAYERS, LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

FROM NOW ON, A RATEPAYER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF A NEW PROPERTY WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE WHEN THE RATES FIRST BECOME PAYABLE.

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"WE EXPECT TO MEET THIS TARGET IN 85 PER CENT OF CASES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RATEABLE VALUES OF ALL PROPERTIES WERK UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS TO MAINTAIN A FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF THE RATES BURDEN.

THE TASK INVOLVES MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION ASSESSMENTS.

"THAT MEANS IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER ΤΟ ASSESS NEW PROPERTIES IN THE YEAR WHEN SUCH A REVALUATION TAKES PLACE.'

THE NEXT SUCH EXERCISE IS NOW UNDER WAY AND WILL TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.

/"IT WILL

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