XN000022-1995-04-19 — Page 25

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To address the flooding problem in NT, the Government has carried out the Territorial Land Drainage and Flood Control Strategy Study which has produced a Basin Management Plan for each major drainage basin. The Plan provides the Government with a rational framework for managing the drainage systems in each basin, and for implementing structural and non-structural flood loss mitigation measures. In the Northwest New Territories a series of river training projects to alleviate flooding and a number of village flood protection schemes are being implemented at a total cost of some $3.1 billion. In addition, we are carrying out a river regulation project of the Shenzhen River in co-operation with the Shenzhen authorities.

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Land Use

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Turning now to land use. I have to mention the very serious problem of uncontrolled use of rural land for open storage and container related activities. This problem is prominent in the Northwest New Territories where large areas of flat land are readily available, particularly in strategic locations near the border. Another problem is flooding which I have mentioned. Until such time as the flooding problem is contained, land use in the rural area is subject to this constraint. Another constraint is the lack of sewers outside new towns. Again this puts a limit on the level of development. I have also mentioned the importance of conservation areas such as Mai Po and the Country Parks, which also limit the potential for development. Indeed, the Government has decided to designate Mai Po as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Apart from these factors, land use in Yuen Long in particular is further constrained by the fact that the Kam Tin Valley and Yuen Long South are topographically enclosed, resulting in poor air dispersion.

Taking these characteristics and constraints into account, what then are the possibilities for co-ordinated land use planning for the Northwest New Territories? The Government's plan is for high density development in new towns, medium density in areas around transport nodes, and low density in other areas. Land in strategic locations will have to be used for transport and other infrastructure. Suitable sites will be identified for container storage and container lorry parking. Conservation areas like Mai Po and Country Parks will be maintained. Outdoor recreation sites on the outer edges of the rural-urban fringe will be developed in due course.

Cross-border Infrastructure Co-ordination

The motion has rightly highlighted the rapid economic development in China and Hong Kong and the need to improve the transportation links between the two places. I would like to take this opportunity to update Members on the work of Infrastructure Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) which is tasked with improving the co- ordination between Hong Kong and the Mainland in respect of major infrastructure projects straddling the border.