XN000022-1993-09-08 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1993

PROJECTS GALORE TO IMPROVE LIFE IN NEW TERRITORIES

IN THE TWO YEARS FROM 1991 TO 1993, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) COMPLETED A STAGGERING 979 WORKS PROJECTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AT A COST OF $78.6 MILLION.

AND DURING A WALKABOUT IN YUEN LONG THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ALBERT LAM, REITERATED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN IMPROVING THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

AT

YEAR,

FOR INSTANCE, CNTA IS AIMING TO UNDERTAKE 525 MORE PROJECTS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $74.6 MILLION DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL MR LAM SAID.

"THIS INCREASE IN OUTPUT IS BRING ACHIEVED AS A RESULT OF MORE MONEY BEING AVAILABLE THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.

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THE TYPES OF PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE VILLAGE ACCESS ROADS, FOOTPATHS, DESILTING, PIERS, MINOR WATER SUPPLIES, MINOR DRAINAGE SCHEMES, SITTING-OUT AREAS, PLAYGROUNDS AND FOOTBRIDGES.

THE COST OF THE PROJECTS RANGES FROM A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BETWEEN $2-3 MILLION.

MR LAM SAID WHERE POSSIBLE, THESE PROJECTS WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED TO STANDARDS TO ALLOW FOR THEIR FUTURE MAINTENANCE TO BE TAKEN OVER BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.

"ANOTHER IMPORTANT AREA OF CNTA'S RURAL IMPROVEMENT ROLE IS ITS INVOLVEMENT IN VILLAGE WATER SUPPLIES," MR LAM SAID.

ΤΟ

REMOTE

"CNTA STAFF WORK CLOSELY WITH THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE WATER SUPPLIES PROGRAMME FOR VILLAGES.

OF

"DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF ALSO CONDUCT SITE INSPECTIONS VILLAGES AND ASSIST VILLAGERS IN MAKING WATER SUPPLY APPLICATIONS."

SUPPLIES OR STANDPIPE FACILITIES CANNOT BE

PROVIDED,

WILL PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF WHOLESOME WATER BY CONSTRUCTING DAMS, WATER TANKS OR WELLS.

WHERE METERED

CNTA

AT PRESENT, CNTA IS WORKING WITH THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO ABOUT 48 REMOTE VILLAGES.

RESPONSIBILITY IS IDENTIFYING VILLAGE LIGHTING

ANOTHER CNTA

NEEDS, MR LAM SAID.

NEEDS,

WHEN DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED THESE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT CAN INSTALL UP TO 1,000 LIGHTS A YEAR, HE SAID.

THE

EARLIER MR LAM STRESSED THAT CNTA'S PRESENCE WOULD FELT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

/HE EXPLAINED

ALWAYS BE