ENG-1997 — Page 282

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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by the year 2021. Tunnelling works were delayed by a contractual dispute in 1996. Construction of all six tunnels resumed after new contractors were appointed and it is expected to be completed in 2001.

The department upgraded existing sewage treatment facilities as another initiative to improve the quality of treated sewage and hence the receiving waters. The upgrading works completed in 1997 included the sludge disposal facilities for Yuen Long, Tai Po, Shek Wu Hui and Sai Kung sewage treatment works, and the upgrading and refurbishment of the existing facilities at various sewage treatment works. The planning and design of the Stage III extension to the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works began in early 1997 while the upgrading of Shek Wu Hui sewage treatment work was scheduled to commence in January 1998.

Sewage Charges

The sewage charging scheme in Hong Kong was introduced on April 1, 1995. Developed on the 'Polluter Pays Principle', the scheme has two components: the general sewage charge and trade effluent surcharge. The general sewage charge is levied at a fixed rate of $1.2 per cubic metre of wastewater discharged and is payable by all water consumers discharging wastewater into the public sewerage system. Some 30 trades discharging at heavier pollutant level are required to pay additionally the trade effluent surcharge which is calculated according to the quantity and pollutant level of the wastewater discharged. In the 1996-97 financial year, sewage charges totalling $695 million were collected.

Stormwater Drainage and Flood Control

The northern and north-western districts of the New Territories are particularly vulnerable to flooding because of their low-lying topography and the effects of urbanisation. The department continued in 1997 to implement major schemes aimed at alleviating flooding in these areas. Projects valued at some $6 billion were at various stages of planning, design and construction.

In the North-Western New Territories, construction work on improvement of some 10 kilometres of the lower reaches of the Kam Tin River and the Shan Pui River in Yuen Long will be completed in 1998. Design work was in progress to build a further 24 kilometres of drainage channels in Kam Tin, Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin.

In the Northern New Territories, Stage I of the Shenzhen River Regulation Project was completed ahead of schedule in April 1997. The construction of Stage II Works started in November 1996 and was scheduled for completion by end-2000. Working jointly with the Shenzhen Municipal Government, preparation for Stage III of the project was under way. The training of eight kilometres of the Indus and Beas Rivers in the Northern New Territories was under design. On completion, these river training works will provide a high flood protection level to the communities along the rivers.

As an associated measure, 15 floodwater pumping schemes were built and put into operation to prevent low-lying villages in the New Territories from flooding. The construction of four more floodwater pumping schemes for San Tin, Chau Tau, Sha Po and Tsung Pak Long and Tai Tau Leng were in progress. Another eight schemes were at various stages of planning and design.