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The Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan, visited Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing with the respective district officers and district councillors today (March 4) to inspect the progress of projects funded under the District Minor Works (DMW) programme.
A total of $300 million was allocated to 18 District Councils (DCs) for 2008-09 to carry out DMWs. The DMW programme block vote was a dedicated block vote for DCs to implement DMWs with a view to improving district facilities, living environment and hygiene conditions in the districts.
Mrs Tan said, "So far, more than 920 DMW projects, with estimated total cost amounting to some $530 million, have been endorsed for implementation by DCs.
"Of the some 920 projects, initial preparation works are being carried out for some 390 projects, such as site inspections, drafting of construction plans and tenders, and liaising with government departments concerned. While construction works for 320 projects have commenced, about 210 projects have already been completed, including rain shelters, repairing of pedestrian walkways and renovation of community halls."
She thanked the DC members for proactively identifying, initiating and planning new projects since the launch of the programme.
"The Home Affairs Department will continue to co-operate with the DCs and work closely with the relevant government departments to speed up the implementation of the DMW projects to improve community facilities and create jobs," she said.
Accompanied by Tuen Mun DC vice-chairman, Mr Leung Kin-man, and district councillors, Mrs Tan first visited a 300-metre covered walkway between Tsing Chuen Wai and San Hing Tsuen. Residents can make use of the covered walkway to go to the light rail stop.
She then inspected a rain shelter now under construction at the public pier on Wu Chui Road, which provides ferry services between Tuen Mun and Tung Chung. Upon completion this April, the project will save passengers waiting for ferries from exposure to sun and rain.
Together with the Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Facilities Management Committee, Mr Chung Wai-ping, and other DC members, Mrs Tan then paid a site visit to Shek Wai Kok Community Hall in Tsuen Wan to learn more about the improvement works being carried out.
Commissioned in October last year, the project will improve the exterior appearance and most of the facilities of the community hall with the objective of providing quality service to the users. Renovation works will be implemented in three phases and is expected to be completed in early 2010.
Under the first-phase works, which were completed in January this year, the wooden flooring of the hall and stage were replaced, and doors and windows were coated with heat insulation film to provide a better venue for various kinds of activities.
Other improvement works included replacing of seats in the hall, installation of new stage facilities such as lighting, audio-visual systems and projector screens, and provision of air-conditioning with cooling and heating functions in the study room.
On the last leg of her visit, Mrs Tan arrived at the newly refurnished Kwai Hing Rest Garden in Kwai Tsing and was received by the Kwai Tsing DC Chairman, Mr Tang Kwok-kwong, and DC members.
Located near the Kwai Hing Government Offices, the garden is a popular rest place for residents and members of the public. With funding from the DMW programme, the garden was given a facelift and plants cultivated for greening and beautification purposes.
Ends/Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:09
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