TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 16

Question No. 6

Speech by the Hon. CHAN Nai-keong, CBE, JP, Secretary for Lands & Works, in answer to question by the Hon. CHAN Ying-lun, at Legislative Council on 3 April, 1985

Question: Can Government inform this Council the cause of

flooding of Shau Kei Wan Main Street East on 11 March 1985 and what short and long term measures are being taken to solve this problem?

Sir,

The recent flooding in Shau Kei Wan Main Street East was caused by the blockage of the drainage system in the vicinity. This blockage is attributed to a number of factors.

With the extensive redevelopment and an increase in population in this area, there is a corresponding increase in the demand placed on the capacity of the existing drainage system which is old. Over the years, the build-up of solid matters on the inside of the pipes has further reduced the capacity of the drainage system. Additionally, extensions to the system to cater for the Aldrich Bay reclamation works, currently in progress, have decreased the hydraulic gradient, thereby reducing the efficiency of the gravity flow. Illegal dumping at the temporary outfall, and damage to the outfall pipe as a result of settlement which adversely affects the discharge into the sea, have further exacerbated the problem of blockage.

Clearance operations to unblock the particular section causing flooding in Shauk Kei Wan Main Street East are in hand by the Highways Office and the flooding problem has for the time being been alleviated. Additionally, plans are in hand to construct an extension to the existing drain pipe of the outfall so as to eliminate the possibility of the drain being blocked by illegal dumping of rubbish. This project is scheduled for completion in September this year.