XN000022-1995-09-27 — Page 5

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Looking back at the last four years, Mr Blake described his job as very fruitful and rewarding.

He said: "There is now greater public input into the Works Policy through the Construction Advisory Board (CAB) with representation from developers, contractors, professional bodies and academic institutions."

CAB is now working towards enhancing safety and other quality standards of the construction industry in Hong Kong.

Mr Blake noted significant progress had been made in instilling in the construction industry a better culture of safety through a "stick and carrot" approach.

"We are now more pro-active in promoting site safety by introducing award schemes for site staff and contractors and more stringent safety requirements in the tender procedure.

"At the same time, we have raised penalties for government contractors who do not pay enough attention on safety. They are now liable to removal from the Government's approved list of contractors for repeated breach of safety requirements.

In his review, Mr Blake gave an update on some of the major projects being undertaken by the Works Group departments as follows:

Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme - Works are progressing well on the construction of the sewage collection system and the Stonecutters Island treatment works. The target date of completion is mid-1997.

Landslip Preventive Measures - A substantial increase in resources has been allocated to bring forward the Landslip Preventive Measures Programme by 10 years to 2000 and to widen the scope to cover roadside slopes.

Flood Control in Northwest New Territories - In parallel with the Shenzhen River regulation work, a $3.6 billion scheme to improve drainage and to protect low-lying villages in NW-NT from flooding is now well underway for completion by stages over the next seven years.

* Tung Chung New Town - The development of Tung Chung as the ninth new

town for a population of 200,000 in 2010's is progressing satisfactorily.

End/Wednesday, September 27, 1995