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Since taking over the responsibility for RPIS Minor Works from the Territory Development Department in November last year, the Home Affairs Department has drawn up a targeted expenditure programme to ensure the original programme time frame is adhered to.
The department has closely involved the rural community in the RPIS Minor Works Programme through a central steering committee and district working groups in each New Territories district as well as liaising with local residents on all aspects of projects and encouraging them to propose new schemes for inclusion in the programme.
"In 1995-96, we will spend $150 million on improvement works to alleviate problems of flooding, pollution and unplanned development in rural areas under RPIS," said Mr Suen.
On the new task of the Home Affairs Department to assess the provision of services for the new arrivals from China, Mr Suen said it was important that these new immigrants be given help to integrate with the community and overcome any problems.
"The Department will, through its district liaison network, assess and monitor the services which are available to, and needed by, recent immigrants."
Regarding the commitment to improve the safety of bedspace apartment lodgers, Mr Suen said all bedspace apartments will be required to comply with the new safety standards spelt out in the licensing scheme under the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance in 1997.
"To enable us to provide for any lodgers whose bedspace apartments close down or reduce in capacity, we plan to construct a multi-storey hostel in Sham Shui Po with Land Development Corporation funds.
"This hostel will accommodate around 600 persons and will be in addition to the some 300 places we have in other smaller scale hostels.
"We will ensure that no lodger is made homeless as a result of operators' compliance with the new safety standards and will provide assistance in finding alternative accommodation for all those who are displaced," Mr Suen said.
End/Saturday, October 14, 1995
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