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"Most of these activities are carried out on a continuous basis, with actions being stepped up before and during the rainy season each year."

On legislative and institutional measures, Mr Ng said: "We are beginning to use our authority under the Land Drainage Ordinance to have proper control and maintenance of main watercourses passing through private lands.

"We have also formalised and published the requirements for Drainage Impact Assessment, which is a tool to minimise the adverse drainage impact of land use and infrastructure developments," he said.

Referring to the Sewage Charging Scheme, Mr Ng said that the scheme had largely been accepted by the public judging by the 0.02 per cent of water consumers who had not settled their accounts.

"During the past financial year, more than 4.4 million bills were issued to customers with $360 million sewage charges and $240 million trade effluent surcharges collected, so far, for the first year of operation."

End

Release of 21 Vietnamese migrants

The Government announced today (Friday) that a further 21 Vietnamese migrants (VMs), who fall under the terms of the recent Privy Council decision, would be released.

The VMs will be released this afternoon. Pending completion of renovation works in the Pillar Point Refugee Centre, they will be accommodated in the New Horizons Refugee Centre.

End