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HAD committed to speeding up minor works projects

The Director of Home Affairs (DHA), Mrs Shelley Lau, today (Saturday) reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the speedy implementation of the rest of Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (RPIS) Minor Works projects in order to create a better living environment in rural areas.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the completion of one of the latest RPIS Minor Works projects, the Chuen Lung Vehicular Bridge at Chuen Lung Tsuen in Tsuen Wan, Mrs Lau stressed the importance of local consultation and co-operation in achieving good results in the shortest possible time in implementing the 10-year RPIS programme which began in 1989.

Mrs Lau said the Home Affairs Department (HAD) took over the management of the programme from Territory Development Department in December 1994 and had since introduced a two-tier administrative structure to facilitate consultation with rural residents.

She said the setting up of the RPIS Minor Works Steering Committee, chaired by DHA and comprising Heung Yee Kuk members, NT District Board chairmen and representatives of other government departments, would ensure the collection and collation of appropriate advice and assistance from all parties concerned and speed up the programme's implementation.

The other tier is made up of nine District Working Groups, each headed by a District Officer, and including local leaders and district government departmental officers. They are tasked with overseeing the programme of works within their districts, setting district priorities for projects and helping to overcome any objections or disputes which may arise.

Mrs Lau said the successful commencement of $100 million worth projects over the last 12 months had shown this administrative structure to be effective, adding that projects worth another $130 million would commence before next April,

"The key to RPIS's success is local participation and HAD's close working We are confident of fully relationship with other government departments. implementing the $1.6 billion RPIS Minor Works programme by 1999/2000 in achieving our goal of improving the infrastructure development and environmental improvement in rural areas," Mrs Lau said.