ENG-2007 — Page 279

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation | 227

Rivers, is in hand. Upon completion of these remaining river training works, the regional flooding problem in the northern New Territories will be largely reduced.

For the low-lying villages, 27 village flood pumping schemes are in operation to protect 35 low-lying villages. In East Kowloon, contracts have been put out for laying 19 kilometres of storm water drains from Tsim Sha Tsui to Kwun Tong by 2011. So far about 4.6 kilometres of storm water drains have already been laid. In West Kowloon, construction of about 12 kilometres of storm water drains in Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Tong and Yau Yat Tsuen were completed in 2007.

To further reduce flooding risks in urban areas, three drainage tunnels will be constructed. They are the Hong Kong West Drainage Tunnel, Tsuen Wan Drainage Tunnel and the Lai Chi Kok Transfer Scheme making up a total of 43 intake structures and about 19 kilometres of tunnels. The Lai Chi Kok Transfer Scheme and Inter- Reservoir Transfer Scheme (IRTS) will bring the level of flood protection at Lai Chi Kok, Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po up to standard. The IRTS can also help to preserve rain water. Works on the two schemes will start in early 2008.

The projects, when completed, will channel storm waters on hillsides into the sea via the drainage tunnels reducing the risk of flooding in urban areas such as Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central & Western District, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Cheung Sha Wan and Lai Chi Kok. This will also reduce the need for additional drains to be built in these already highly congested areas.

Under a preventive maintenance programme, the Drainage Services Department maintains about 2 600 kilometres of watercourse, river channels and drains, from which about 270 000 cubic metres of silt were removed in 2007.

Apart from arranging regular visits to the San Tin Flood Prevention Information. Centre for district councillors and school children, the department also distributed pamphlets to villagers and property management offices to educate the public on flood prevention. In September, the department joined the 'Innovation Expo 2007' to further enhance public awareness of the importance of flood prevention.

Decking of Nullahs

In 2005, the Government announced a plan to deck 16 sections of nullahs in the urban areas to improve their surrounding environment.

The works are being carried out in three packages. Package A, which consists of eight sections of decking works was completed following the completion of the Lung Chu Street Nullah in October 2007.

Works under Package B which consist of four nullahs will commence in early 2008. There are four nullahs under Package C which are in the design stage and latest advice of the relevant District Councils will be sought on how best to undertake these works to meet public needs. All of the nullah decking works are scheduled to be completed progressively by 2014.