XN000022-1993-09-27 — Page 4

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1993

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT

THAT RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOON DOT HAD BEEN AFFECTING THE TERRITORY SINCE LAST FRIDAY (SEPTEMBER 24).

UP TO 10.30 AM THIS MORNING, CLOSE TO 500 MM OF RAINFALL HAD FALLEN OVER MUCH OF THE TERRITORY.

THE WORST AFFECTED AREA WAS THE MID-LEVELS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WHICH RECEIVED ABOUT 640 MM OF RAIN.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO REPORTS OF INJURIES DUE TO LANDSLIPS.

OF

BUILDING, ROADS

ONLY SEVEN PERSONS WERE EVACUATED FROM A PRIVATE SEVERAL SQUATTERS HAD BEEN TEMPORARILY CLEARED AND A NUMBER HAD BEEN TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY CLOSED. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE ROADS WILL BE REOPENED SOON.

DURING THE RAINSTORM, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, THE GEO SET UP ITS EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTRE TO RESPOND TO INCIDENT REPORTS.

THE CENTRE WAS MANNED ROUND THE CLOCK DURING THE LANDSLIP WARNING PERIOD TO PROVIDE SPECIALIST ADVICE.

ABOUT 30 GEO PROFESSIONAL STAFF WERE ON SITE DURING THE RAINSTORM AND ARE CURRENTLY FOLLOWING UP ON SEVERAL INCIDENTS.

NOTING THAT SEVERAL LANDSLIPS HAD AFFECTED THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED PRIVATE FLAT OWNERS TO SLOPES WERE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND THE DRAINS SLOPES WERE CLEAR OF BLOCKAGES AT ALL TIMES.

PRIVATE BUILDINGS, ENSURE THAT THEIR CARRYING WATER OFF

"LANDSLIDES ARE SOMETIMES PRECEDED BY FLOODING. THEREFORE PRIVATE OWNERS EXPERIENCING FLOODING SHOULD HAVE THE IR SLOPES INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY. GENERALLY, CLEARING OF BLOCKAGES IS A SIMPLE JOB, BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL IN PREVENTING LANDSLIDES, THE ADDED.

77

SPOKESMAN

0

—

TWO MORE RELIEF CENTRES SET UP TO HELP FARMERS

* * * * *

SET

IN VIEW OF THE EXTENSIVE FLOODINGS IN NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES YESTERDAY (SUNDAY), THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAD UP TWO SPECIAL REGISTRATION CENTRES AT NORTH AND YUEN LONG DISTRICTS TO HANDLE APPLICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND BY LOCAL FARMERS.

THEY ARE IN ADDITION TO ITS THREE EXTENSION OFFICES.

NEEDY FARMERS FROM THE DISTRICTS, INCLUDING FISH FARMERS, WHO AFFECTED BY THE RECENT TYPHOON CAN NOW APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND AT THE FOLLOWING FIVE CENTRES:

ARE

*

ADDITIONAL CENTRES:

TAI LUNG EXPERIMENTAL STATION (TEL:670 1161)

TA KWU LING PIG BREEDING CENTRE (TEL:674 0593)