TNAG-1729-FCO40-2442-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 156

3

Turning now to the rural areas, I would

reiterate what I said in this Council in February 1988 that the Administration is looking at a more comprehensive approach towards improvements to rural areas outside new towns, and this covers a review of policies and programmes necessary to achieve these. Improvements are currently taking place under the local public works and the urban fringe improvement programmes. Most of these involve fairly small scale works which are relatively easy to implement. However, a number of items in the urban fringe improvement programme covers more extensive works which often involves land acquisition, and the time-scale for this is somewhat longer than for minor items in the local public works programme. The result is that these works have not progressed as quickly as one would have wished and in the light of experience gained over the past year, I am currently looking into ways of expediting the programme including setting up a dedicated staff team

Wong-fax's specifically for rural improvements. Mc. Lau very constructive suggestion of a Rural Development Committee to monitor and help bring forward the urban fringe improvement programme will also be cosidered.

K

Regarding sewage and drainage, I am sure that I will receive the support of the Secretary for Health and Welfare in saying that the Government is in earnest in its intention to reverse the tide of the present deterioration, of the quality of our local waters and streams. The sewage strategy which Your Excellency referred to at the opening of this session is a very serious enterprise which must and will lead to improvement.