XN000022-1993-11-24 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1993

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RECREATION USE APPROPRIATE FOR LANDFILL SITES

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARK AT GIN DRINKER'S BAY LANDFILL UPON ITS CLOSURE WILL MAKE OPTIMAL USE OF THE LAND CREATED AND PROVIDE OPEN SPACE FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP, MR EASON SAID GIVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTLEMENT OF THE LANDFILL. SURFACE DURING THE INITIAL PERIOD AFTER IT'S CLOSURE, SUBSTANTIAL BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES COULD NOT BE BUILT ON IT.

PARKS AND OTHER RECREATION FACILITIES ARE APPROPRIATE USES FOR SUCH LANDFILL SITES, PROVIDED PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN ΤΟ PREVENT DISCHARGE OF LEACHATE AND THE BUILD-UP OF LANDFILL GAS.

AND SAID.

"ON THE ADVICE OF CONSULTANTS, MEASURES TO DEAL WITH LEACHATE PREVENT LANDFILL GAS EMISSIONS WILL BE PART OF THE PROJECT," HE

MR EASON SAID NO DATE HAD BEEN FIXED FOR THE OPENING OF THE PARK BECAUSE THE PHASE IT WORKS HAD NOT YET STARTED PENDING THE FINALISATION OF THE DETAILS OF ANOTHER WORKS PROJECT WHICH WOULD AFFECT IT.

"THE

PROCEED WITH COSTS

REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS WAITING TO PHASE I I OF THE PARK PROJECT TO AVOID INCURRING UNNECESSARY BEFORE THE DETAILS ARE FINALISED, HE SAID.

0

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FAVOURABLE COMMENTS ON MID-LEVEL ESCALATORS

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THE CENTRAL TO MID-LEVELS ESCALATOR SYSTEM HAS PROVEN TO BE REMARKABLY POPULAR AND HAS ATTRACTED FAVOURABLE COMMENT BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN

REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LAM KUI-CHUN, MR BARMA SAID WHILE IT WAS TOO SOON TO ESTABLISH THE REAL IMPACT ON TRAFFIC THE MID-LEVEL AREA, BALLPARK FIGURES SUGGESTED A LITTLE LESS RELIANCE ON VEHICULAR TRANSPORT.

"BECAUSE OF

THE LARGE NUMBER OF SIGHTSEERS AND OTHER USERS ATTRACTED BY THE NOVELTY OF THE SYSTEM, NO CLEAR PATTERN HAS SO FAR EMERGED IN THE USE OF THE ESCALATORS.

"HOWEVER, BALLPARK FIGURES DO SHOW THAT, ON AVERAGE, SOME 20,000 PEOPLE USE THE ESCALATOR DAILY WITH ABOUT 4,000 TRAVELLING DOWNHIEF ON THE ESCALATOR BETWEEN 6 A.M. AND 10 A.M. EACH MORNING, SAID.

"

HE

MR BARNA SAID SINCE THE TRIAL PERIOD BEGAN, ONLY EIGHT COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED.

THESE COMPLAINTS REFLECTED BASIC TERTHING PROBLEMS THAT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED AND MOST HAD BEEN RECTIFIED.

/TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT