XN000022-1994-11-23 — Page 29

REPLY:

(C)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994

12

WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED, MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS WELL BEFORE ANY RECLAMATION WORKS ARE TO COMMENCE IN THE FUTURE?

MR PRESIDENT,

THE

OF

SCALE ASSUMPTION RECLAMATIONS AVOID REDUCING

THE HONOURABLE MEMBER SUGGESTS THAT THE DRAINAGE CAPACITY EXISTING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REDUCED AS A RESULT OF LARGE RECLAMATION WORKS BEING CARRIED OUT IN WEST KOWLOON. THIS IS NOT CORRECT, SINCE THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE

ALL TIME BEEN PREDICATED BY THE NEED TO HAS AT EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

THE

THE

PROBLEM OF EXISTING DRAINAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE HOWEVER,

DRAINAGE PIPES AND CHANNELS IN THE WEST WERE BUILT MANY YEARS AGO, THEY ARE DETERIORATING, AND HAVE INADEQUATE

EVEN TO CATER FOR INCREASING URBANIZATION. CAPACITY

IN WEST

ARE KOWLOON, THESE AREAS RECLAMATION WORKS

UNDER EXCEPTIONALLY

RAINFALL HEAVY

SUCH FLOODING EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.

KOWLOON

ACCOUNT.

AREAS

WITHOUT THE AT RISK OF AS WE HAVE

WHEN

THE

THE

THE

THE BEFORE THE FOLLOWED AND LEAST

THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED, PROBLEM OF THE EXISTING DRAINAGE CAPACITY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF RECLAMATION WAS NOT IGNORED OR UNDERESTIMATED. THE EFFECT OF PROJECT ON THE EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN 1990 IN

WELL RECLAMATION FEASIBILITY STUDY, WEST KOWLOON COMMENCEMENT OF THE RECLAMATION. DETAILED STUDIES THEN ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS WERE DEVISED. THE AIM WAS TO MAINTAIN AT

OF

THE EXISTING CAPACITY

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

WHERE AND, CONDITIONS PERMITTED, TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY WAS FURTHER. THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR THESE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKS AWARDED THREE YEARS AGO, AND BEFORE THE NEXT RAINY SEASON ARRIVES, LARGE PART OF THESE WORKS WILL BE COMPLETE THUS REDUCING THE RISK SERIOUS FLOODING IN THESE AREAS.

THE

SITE

A

OF

THE CONSULTANCY STUDY REFERRED TO BY THE HONOURABLE MEMBER THAT

PROBLEMS JUNE THIS YEAR IS SEPARATE FROM THE

ASSOCIATED STARTED IN WITH RECLAMATION WORKS. IT IS AN INVESTIGATION, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT WORKS BEING PROPOSED TO BRING THE WHOLE OF THE OLD SYSTEM UP TO MODERN STANDARDS. WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER

INVESTIGATIONS SIMILAR

PARTS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN OTHER

OF THE DRAINAGE TERRITORY AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

OF

FINALLY, PRESIDENT MAY I SAY THAT GOVERNMENT HAS GAINED

PROJECTS. VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FROM THE RECENT LARGE-SCALE RECLAMATION LET US REMEMBER, DURING THESE FEW YEARS OF PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENTS TOTAL AREA RECLAIMED AMOUNTS TO AN INCREASE OF SOME 35% ASSESSING THE ALL PREVIOUS RECLAMATIONS. OUR TECHNIQUES FOR DRAINAGE IMPACT OF A RECLAMATION PROJECT ON ITS SURROUNDING AREA BEEN IMPROVING, ALONG WITH OUR ASSESSMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS. LEARNING FROM THE RESULTS THUS FAR MEASURES TO COUNTERACT SUCH ADVERSE IMPACTS WILL BE UTILISED IN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.

HAVE

AND

APPROPRIATE

EVERY

THANK YOL.

/13