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force. The worst effects are likely to arise not so much from the winds, but through extra high tides or damage to the existing protective measures such as the floating boom. These are factors against which there is no guaranteed safeguard.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following questions:

Is the Council aware that a large number of the flush systems in the urban areas are not working either due to defective pumps or inadequate well water supply and in such cases water from the mains is used for flushing purposes? To conserve mains water and in the interest of public hygiene is the Department taking steps to rectify the situa- tion by enforcing the relative by-laws and, if so, what specific measures have been taken or contemplated? Has the Department examined the possibility of making avail- able the supply of sea water for flushing purposes partic- ularly in districts where well water supply is not obtain- able or inadequate?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

With the permission of Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, I will take this question and the next two, which also stand in his name, at the same time, as they are closely related.

The first two questions concern defects in flushing systems and

steps to rectify the situation.

It is realized that there are flushing systems in the urban areas which become defective because of mechanical failures in the pumps, and that wells have been drying up in the present exceptional spring and summer. When a case of failure by the owner of any premises to provide an adequate supply of water for flushing purposes (as required by Conservancy By-law 5(2)) is brought to notice, and the reason is mechanical failure of a pump, a warning letter is sent by the district Senior Health Inspector to the owner advising him of the steps necessary to comply with the law. If the owner fails to heed the warning he is prosecuted. Since the 1st January this year, about 1,800 warning letters have been served and 11 summonses have been taken out.

Where the defect is due to lack of water in a well the position is more difficult. First of all the well is investigated to see whether removal of silt or other cleaning is necessary.

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Secondly, if the lack of water appears to be due solely to absence of underground water at the level to which the well has been sunk, consideration is given to deepening the well. Before this is done a study of other wells in the neighbourhood is made. Care must be taken to ensure that one well is not so deepened that it draws off all the water from the neighbouring premises. Notices requiring deepening of wells are only served after the case has been reviewed by the Assistant Director (Hygiene).

The third question concerns the use of sea water for flushing purposes, and the answer is that the Urban Services Department has not examined the question, which is not within its competence but is the responsibility of the Water Authority. Nevertheless, the department is in close con- tact with the Water Authority on this subject, and I am informed that considerable progress is being made with the provision of salt water flushing systems in an increas- ing number of districts in the Colony.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:-Mr. Chairman, regarding the last part of your answer would you kindly specify the districts that have salt water connections, and whether it is the intention of the Water Authority to extend such facilities?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Perhaps I could answer that one, Mr. Chairman. The districts which at present have salt water flushing are Chai Wan and North Point on Hong Kong Island; the Kwun Tong/ Kai Tak area in Kowloon, Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon, Kwai Chung which is now being developed but which will have it, and all resettle- ment estates throughout Hong Kong. All new areas that are being de- veloped like Kwai Chung, or Aberdeen according to the new town plan, will have salt water flushing, and this will be extended as far as possible.

MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :·

To what extent do Select Committees avail themselves of the arrangement made with the Information Services Depart- ment for the setting up of public relations programmes?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :—

Members will recall that we agreed in Standing Committee on 4th June this year that, for a trial period of six months, an informal sub-committee, consisting of a representative from the Urban Services Department and a representative from the Information Services Department, should be

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