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To improve the living environment, the Government will deck over 16 sections of nullahs throughout Hong Kong in the next 10 years.

The Chief Executive announced this long-term plan in his 2005 Policy Address on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Drainage Services Department said today (January 14) that the 16 sections comprised three on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories. Among them, eight sections will be decked within three years, four in six years and the remaining four in 10 years.

"We have carefully selected these nullahs so that the decking will not increase the risk of flooding in the concerned areas. We have also taken into account the environmental benefits and the number of people who will benefit from the works," the spokesman explained.

"The Government will be able to complete decking of eight nullahs within the next three year since no complicated engineering issues and land constraints are involved," he said.

These eight nullahs are Mong Kok Road Nullah in Mong Kok; Lung Chu Street Nullah in Sham Shui Po; Joyful Building Nullah, beside Tsuen Tak Garden, and Summit Terrace Nullah (part), south of Tsuen King Circuit, in Tsuen Wan; Kwai Wing Road Nullah Ramp and San Kwai Street Nullah Ramp and Yip Shing Street Nullah in Kwai Chung; and Fung Fai Terrace Nullah (part) in Happy Valley.

Four other nullahs will be decked by 2011 as time is needed to resolve more complicated engineering and land constraints. They are Jordan Valley Nullah (part) in Kwun Tong; Rambler Crest Nullah, Tsing Yi Road, in Tsing Yi; Flower Market Road Nullah in Mong Kok; and Tonkin Street Nullah in Sham Shui Po.

The remaining four nullahs will be decked by 2015 because co-ordination with related developments such as road widening and local drainage improvement works is involved, apart from technical factors. They are Queen's College Nullah, Causeway Road, in Causeway Bay; Kai Tak Nullah (part), Choi Hung Road, in Wong Tai Sin; Staunton Creek Nullah (part), Heung Yip Road, in Wong Chuk Hang; and Fuk Man Road Nullah in Sai Kung.

"The land obtained from decking of the nullahs will be used for public purposes such as urban greening, amenities and road widening," he said.

"We will consult the relevant authorities and District Councils about the works in due course," he added.

The estimated capital expenditure of about $1.2 billion on nullah decking will be phased over 10 years. This would help sustain the Government's pledge to maintain annual public works spending at the $29 billion level and generate additional employment for the construction industry.

Ends/Friday, January 14, 2005

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