ENG-1995 — Page 262

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Projects under these three categories, valued at some $9 billion, are now under construction by the Drainage Services Department, and projects worth a further $3 billion are at various stages of development.

The largest existing project in hand in 1995 was the Tolo Harbour Effluent Export Scheme. This will export sewage effluent from the Sha Tin and Tai Po sewage treatment works into Victoria Harbour and help to prevent the occurrence of red tides in Tolo Harbour. Stage I of the works between Sha Tin and Victoria Harbour was completed in April 1995 and included the construction of a sewer tunnel, 3.2 metres in diameter and 7.5 kilometres in length, under Tsz Wan Shan. Stage II of the works between Tai Po and Sha Tin was completed in August 1995 and included the construction of a one-metre diameter, six-kilometre long, steel rising main buried under the seabed of Tolo Harbour.

Another major project in this category completed in 1995 was a sewage screening plant to serve a population of 700 000 and various industries in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. This represents a major step in reducing pollution in the Western Harbour. Under the sewerage masterplan schemes, planning and design work was in hand to improve the sewage collection, treatment and disposal facilities in Tuen Mun; North District; Wan Chai East and North Point; Central, Western and Wan Chai West; Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Pok Fu Lam; and the outlying islands. Construction work was in progress in the remainder of the sixteen sewerage masterplan schemes. In the North and South Kowloon masterplan area, contracts to clean and inspect sewers, and to build and refurbish sewers and pumping stations, were awarded in 1995.

A contract to build new sewers identified in the North-West Kowloon masterplan was awarded in 1995. A consultancy to design and build the remaining sewers, together with the first stage of the stormwater drainage improvements in the same area, was also awarded in 1995.

In the area covered by the Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi sewerage masterplan, work continued on a sewer contract awarded in late 1994 and two further contracts were awarded in 1995.

Under the Yuen Long and Kam Tin sewerage masterplan, construction works started in 1995 and includes the laying of 2.8 kilometres of rising mains from Yuen Long to Ha Tsuen, some of which will be installed by trenchless methods to avoid inconveniencing the public.

Construction work continued in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island. In Stanley, the sewage treatment plant, built in an underground cavern, was completed in 1995. Other sewerage rehabilitation and improvement works in the Stanley and Tai Tam areas were completed in late 1994. The sewage treatment plant treats and disinfects the sewage from these areas before their discharge to the sea. The works in Repulse Bay and Shek O were expected to be completed towards the end of 1995 and in mid-1996, respectively. Besides improving sewerage facilities, this project will protect the popular bathing beaches in this scenic area.

The construction of new sewers in East Kowloon continued. A contract to extend sewers already completed began in June 1995 and is expected to be completed in April 1997. The design for the stage II sewerage works which are situated in the San Po Kong and Kwun Tong Industrial areas is in progress.

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