XN000022-1993-06-25 — Page 8

6

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1993

BILL INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE WATERCOURSE MAINTENANCE

*

THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INTRODUCING A BILL TO MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING WATERCOURSES IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SEEKS

THE LAND DRAINAGE BILL 1993 WHICH WAS GAZETTED

TO GAIN THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ AUTHORISE WATERCOURSES WHICH PASS THROUGH, OR ARE SURROUNDED TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN SUCH WATERCOURSES.

DEAL THE

TODAY (FRIDAY)

TO THE ACCESS

MAIN BY, PRIVATE LAND

THAT OWING TO LAND

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED USE CHANGES AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT WATERCOURSES BOTH ON GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE LAND OBSTRUCTED, RESULTING IN MORE SERIOUS FLOODS IN RECENT YEARS.

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, NATURAL WERE SILTED UP OR

GOVERNMENT'S

EFFORTS TO

MAINTAIN THE ACCESS то

THE NEVERTHELESS, WATERCOURSES HAD BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE PROBLEM OF GAINING THEM THROUGH PRIVATE LAND.

ΤΟ

"IF ENACTED, THE BILL WILL ENHANCE THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY

OF THE MAIN CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS AND IMPROVE THE HYDRAULIC CAPACITIES

THE SPOKESMAN SAID. WATERCOURSES, THUS REDUCING THE RISK OF FLOODING,

WATERCOURSE WORKS THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT WHILE THE

DAMAGE TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT WERE NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE

FOR CONTAINS TO

LAND

BILL STILL OWNERS, THE COMPENSATION IF THE WORKS CAUSED DAMAGE TO LAND OR BUILDINGS,

THE

PROVISIONS

PROVIDED UNDER THE ROADS

THE PROVISIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE (CAP. 370).

IN THE EVENT THAT SETTLEMENT CANNOT CLAIMANT AND THE GOVERNMENT, THE CASE MAY TRIBUNAL FOR A DECISION.

BE REACHED BETWEEN THE BE REFERRED TO THE LAND

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE SETTING UP OF (DA) AND A DRAINAGE APPEAL BOARD (DAB).

A DRAINAGE AUTHORITY

WOULD BE THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DIRECTOR OF DRAINAGE SERVICES

TO PREPARE DRAFT DA AREA THE DA, AND THE BILL WOULD PERMIT THE DA

WOULD BE

AND DESIGNATED,

ΤΟ PLANS, ON EXECUTE DRAINAGE WORKS WITHIN THOSE WATERCOURSES.

WHICH MAIN

WATERCOURSES

THE DAB PANEL WILL COMPRISK

BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE

BOARD

WILL

NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS APPOINTED HEAR AND DETERMINE REVIEWS

AND

APPRALS LODGED BY THE PUBLIC AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION OF THE DA.

CARRY OUT, IN A

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES THAT NO PERSON SHALL MAIN WATERCOURSE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE DA, ENGINEERING WORK WHICH OBSTRUCTS THE FLOW OF THE WATERCOURSE.

/FAILURE TO