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Several Government departments will jointly take immediate measures to control the risk of possible floodings in Fo Tan before the end of this rainy season.
The Drainage Services Department today (June 13) met with Highways Department, Water Supplies Department and Home Affairs Department to discuss the ways to resolve the problem in the longer term.
The road pavement of Wong Chuk Yeung Street, Fo Tan, was severely damaged during the torrential rain on June 2. The area was struck again by the flooding on June 9, flushing away a parked car and damaging the newly repaired road pavement.
A Government spokesman said after the meeting that the Drainage Services Department would start removing a drainage bottleneck at Wong Chuk Yeung Tsuen Path, upstream of Wong Chuk Yeung Street and carrying out urgent works in the next few weeks. Four existing drains, two 1 050 mm in diameter and two 900 mm in diamenter, under a road bridge will be replaced by larger size box culverts which will provide a 1-in-50-year flood protection standard.
The spokesman added that this urgent work, when completed in about four months, would help alleviate the flooding problem at Wong Chuk Yeung Street.
In addition to these drainage works, the Water Supplies Department would consider, as an interim measure, diverting some of the upland flow to other catchments.
Meanwhile, the Highways Department would arrange reconstruction of sections of Wong Chuk Yeung Street by concrete pavement, and the installation of sub-soil drains. These measures will help strengthen the pavement from being damaged by heavy rains again.
"Before the completion of the above engineering measures, the Drainage Services Department, Highways Department, Water Supplies Department and Home Affairs Department will step up the inspection and clearance of debris in gratings, grills, pipelines etc. to mitigate any possible flooding in the area," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:34
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