ENG-2010 — Page 287

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation 237

manpower development through enhanced training, enhancing qualification requirements for contractors and contractor management. To better protect public safety, the GLTM Section introduced a new set of tree risk assessment arrangements for government departments in 2010. A new tree register containing information on trees under close monitoring by departments was launched at www.trees.gov.hk in July 2010 to facilitate community surveillance of trees that may pose a risk to public safety. In collaboration with relevant departments, District Councils, schools and other interested organisations, the GLTM Section will continue to foster a tree care culture and promote public awareness of greening issues through community involvement and public education activities.

Better living environment through quality greening

The GLTM Section oversees the implementation of greening measures across departments to provide a quality living environment. About 50 million plants, including trees, shrubs and annuals, were planted during the past five years with 10 million planted in 2010-11.

The GLO under the GLTM Section advocates a co-ordinated approach to urban greening and open-space planning, and promotes best practices in landscape design to optimise the greening effect. In view of the congested urban environment in Hong Kong, the GLO encourages the adoption of new greening techniques, such as vertical greening and roof greening, by sharing technical knowledge among practitioners.

The Government is developing and implementing Greening Master Plans (GMPs) for various districts. The GMPs define the overall greening frameworks and themes for individual districts. The Government has developed the GMPs for all urban districts. The greening works proposed in the GMPs for Central, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei were completed. The greening work for the remaining urban areas commenced in the second half of 2009 for completion in 2011. Meanwhile, the Government is preparing for the formulation of GMPs for the New Territories.

Drainage Services

Flood Prevention Programme

To address flooding risks, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has completed flood protection works at a total cost of about $11.2 billion throughout the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon peninsula and the New Territories. The department has also embarked on the planning, design and construction of further flood protection works at a total cost of about $10.4 billion.

The majority of major flood protection works in the New Territories have been completed. These include about 82 kilometres of trained rivers and 27 village floodwater pumping schemes. The risk of regional flooding in the New Territories has been substantially reduced as a result. Works to improve about 32 kilometres of drainage works in Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fanling and Sheung Shui and other areas are due for completion in 2013. Design work for another eight kilometres of drainage