*************************************************
Government departments reported on the latest situation in the Tai O area in a press briefing today (June 12).
The press briefing was chaired by Islands District Officer Mr Byron Lam. Also present at the briefing were representatives from Highways Department, Water Supplies Department and Geotechnical Engineering Office.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mr Lam said in the light of the unstable weather conditions, the Islands District Office had this morning advised 11 families, involving 21 people, to move out temporarily from their village houses which had been identified to be subject to dangerous slopes by the Geotechnical Engineering Office.
All the affected residents had voluntarily evacuated their homes in Nan Chung Tsuen and Tai O Sun Tsuen after persuasion. Thirteen people had opted to move into the temporary public housing units provided by the Government in Lung Tin Estate, Tai O, while the remaining moved to homes of their relatives or friends.
On water supply, the Water Supplies Department said water supply to Tai Long Wan Village had resumed while supply of stream water to Shum Wat Village was expected to resume tomorrow.
The Highways Department expected that road access could return to normal for the section from Tai O to Ngong Ping tomorrow morning if weather conditions permitted. But at certain locations, one lane two way arrangement would be adopted. Also, the village road from Shum Wat to Tung Chung Hau Wong Temple was expected to be reopened to village vehicles tomorrow. The repairs to Keung Shan Road were in progress.
The Islands District Office continued to send its staff to call on the remote villages and had distributed relief materials to residents of Sheung Keung Shan, Shum Wat Village, Tai Long Wan Village and San Tau Village.
CAS members had been stationed at Tai O on a 24-hour basis starting today. Fifty volunteers from the disciplinary forces went to Tai O today to help clear mud or other blockages on roads and deliver essential food to the residents.
Residents who were affected by the rainstorms and had financial difficulties may apply to the Islands District Office for emergency relief fund.
As it was forecast that the weather conditions might turn unstable in the coming two days, the Home Affairs Department would open its temporary shelters at Central and Western District, Eastern District, Wong Tai Sin and Tung Chung for people in need of temporary accommodation from 10pm tonight. For enquiries, please call 2835 1473.
Ends/Friday, June 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:30
NNNN
Windows Media format
Real Media format