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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, visited Tai O this (September 16) afternoon to see the impact of Typhoon Koppu on the local residents.
Mr Tsang was briefed by the District Officer (Islands), Mr Byron Lam, on the assistance offered to Tai O residents which included the issue of a real time flood alert and the activation of an emergency command centre to co-ordinate evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts.
Mr Tsang paid visits to homes and shops and listened to residents' accounts on how they tackled the floods. He also stopped at the former Wing Chor Primary School which was one of the temporary shelters for residents in need of temporary accommodation.
Mr Tsang noted that the damages inflicted by Typhoon Koppu were less serious than Typhoon Hagupit which struck Hong Kong in September last year.
"I am most happy to see that Tai O residents have found the alert system useful, and they are satisfied with the assistance offered by various government departments as well as the Tai O Rural Committee," the Chief Executive said.
During the visit, Mr Tsang was also briefed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department on the proposed riverwall project at Tai O.
He noted that the feasibility study for the project had been completed and subject to the Legislative Council's funding approval, construction work would commence in the second half of 2010 for completion in 2011.
Mr Tsang reassured Tai O residents that upon completion of the riverwall, the risk of flooding at Wing On Street under high tides in average meteorological condition would be alleviated.
Ends/Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:29
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