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Once again this year, questions on the problem of flooding in the North-west New Territories have been raised. Within the PWP this year we have embarked upon over $3 billion worth of major drainage projects in the northern New Territories, including the huge Shenzhen river training project which we are carrying out jointly with our colleagues across the border. Obviously a programme of works such as this has taken a substantial period of time to design and prepare for implementation. We are now poised to see the implementation of the necessary work, and a rigorous programme has been adopted to ensure completion of these works on schedule. These large-scale drainage schemes will complement existing local level flood protection measures, and will help to reduce greatly the effects of heavy rainfall in the northern New Territories.
Finally, Mr President, I would like to acknowledge some Members' concerns for the safety of the people at the "sharp end" of our capital works programme, namely construction workers. The Works Branch is introducing many new initiatives which enable Government as the Employer to ensure that safety practices on Government sites are rigorously applied. As the ACP is already showing, this level of active management by the Employer does produce good results, and downward trends in the accident statistics. Regulation and training are the ways to ensure compliance with and awareness of safety practices and techniques. But as Dr Samuel Wong Ping-wai has pointed out, as well as applying pressure, there is also scope for rewarding safe practice. It is therefore our intention this year to implement a scheme whereby we will give high-profile public recognition to contractors who have consistently enabled their staff to work in a secure and clean environment.
With these remarks. Mr President, I conclude my response to Members' comments on the Budget.
End/Wednesday, March 29, 1995
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