XN000022-1993-11-17 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993

GOVT WILL PRESS ON FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES

THE GOVERNMENT FULLY RECOGNISES THE SEVERITY OF RECENT FLOODING INCIDENTS AND WILL IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP THE MOTION DEBATE ON FLOODING PROBLEM IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES, MR EASON SAID BOTH PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE CONSTANTLY REVIEWED AND IMPROVED AS FAR

AS POSSIBLE.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION FOR TWO REASONS.

"FIRST, DESPITE OUR DETERMINATION TO COMMENCE WORKS ON THE SHENZHEN RIVER PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT IN MID 1994 WHEN IT IS CLEAR THAT AT BEST WORKS COULD NOT START BEFORE LATE 1994.

"SECONDLY, WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION WILL KEEP UNDER REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, THE ADMINISTRATION IS UNABLE TO PRE-EMPT THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE AND THEREFORE SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL THAT ANY IMPROVED MEASURES SHOULD HAVE RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT."

MR BASON SAID THE FLOODING PROBLEM IN THE NORTH NT WOULD BE ALLEVIATED TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT WHEN THE SHENZHEN RIVER WAS TRAINED UNDER A JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SHENZHEN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE PROJECT IS DIVIDED INTO THREB STAGES. STAGE I INVOLVES THE STRAIGHTENING OF THE BENDS AT LOK MA CHAU AND LIU POK: STAGE II COVERS THE STRETCH OF THE RIVER FROM LO WU ΤΟ THE ESTUARY; AND STAGE III COVERS THE REMAINING STRETCH OF THE RIVER FROM LO WU UPSTREAM TO MUK MU.

"BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE ACCEPTED THE NEED FOR STAGES I AND II WORKS TO PROCEED FIRST. WE HAVE EARMARKED FUNDS FOR THESE TWO STAGES," HE SAID.

PREPARATORY

IS IN PROGRESS.

WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED BY THE TWO SIDES AND

IT INCLUDES A LAND SURVEY, SITE INVESTIGATION AND HYDRAULIC MODEL TEST REQUIREMENTS TO ASCERTAIN THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THE STAGES I AND II WORKS ON THE LO WỤ RAILWAY BRIDGE, AND AN BIA STUDY FOR STAGE I AND II OF THE PROJECT.

MR EASON SAID SUBJECT TO THE RESULT OF THIS WORK AND OTHER NECESSARY PROCEDURES, SUCH AS LAND RESUMPTION AND FUNDING APPROVAL FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, STAGE I WORKS WOULD MOST LIKELY START 1995.

IN

/HE SAID