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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Wong-fat and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
Question:
Regarding the provision of public sewerage systems in villages, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)of the following, broken down by District Council (DC) districts and Rural Committees (RCs) concerned:
(i) the names of villages covered by public sewerage systems at present;
(ii) the names of villages where sewerage projects are being implemented; and
(iii) the names of villages for which the design work of sewerage projects is underway, and the expected completion dates of such projects for each of these villages;
(b) whether it will consider expediting the implementation of such projects by outsourcing the relevant work; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it will consider strengthening communication with the villagers concerned through DCs and RCs, so as to enable villagers to know as early as possible about the implementation details of such projects, and more efficiently obtain their consent to the implementation of the projects?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a)
(i) Up to present, about 80 villages have been provided with sewerage connection systems. The names of these villages and the associated District Councils (DCs)/ Rural Committees (RCs) and other relevant information are tabulated in Annex A;
(ii) At present, sewerage connection systems to about 40 villages are being implemented. The names of these villages and the associated DCs / RCs, and other relevant information are tabulated in Annex B; and
(iii) At present, sewerage connection systems for about 300 villages are at the planning and design stage. The names of these villages and the associated DCs / RCs and other relevant information are tabulated in Annex C.
(b) It has been a normal practice for the Government to outsource the construction of various public works projects through tendering to qualified contractors. Also, to reduce the workload in view of limited internal resources, the Government regularly commissions consulting firms through tendering/selection process to provide services on technical feasibility study, planning, design and works supervision for public works. This includes over 90 per cent of the village sewerage projects being implemented.
(c) The relevant departments, including the Environmental Protection Department, the Home Affairs Department, Drainage Services Department; and their consultants, via the DCs, RCs, and village representatives, would arrange a series of consultation meetings and briefing sessions at the early project planning stage to strengthen communication with the villagers. This includes explaining to the villagers the usual problems encountered during the construction of village sewerage systems, general information on sewerage projects, and works programme so as to allow the villagers a better understanding of the project details, to reach common consensus, to minimise nuisance to the villagers during works implementation, and to avoid impacts to traditional culture and Feng Shui matters, etc. Based on past experience, the village sewerage projects are generally supported by the relevant DCs, RCs and villagers such that the projects could proceed smoothly.
Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:30
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