CE visits Sai Kung (with photos)
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited Sai Kung this afternoon (September 24) to inspect the Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works and the Marine Police East Division operational base to learn about the damage to the facilities brought by typhoon Mangkhut and progress of the repair works. She also met with members of the public at the town centre.
This is part of the major follow-up work by the Government following the passage of the typhoon. Relevant departments have been fully engaged in cleaning up the city and other follow-up work in the past few days. On-site inspection and co-ordinated action were conducted as appropriate with a view to resuming normal service as soon as possible.
Accompanied by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong, Mrs Lam first inspected the Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works that were seriously damaged by the typhoon and was briefed on the repair progress and the measures on sewage treatment. She noted that following the hard work by the Drainage Services Department (DSD) over the days, a temporary pipe has been installed to divert the disinfected primary-treated sewage into a submarine outfall for dispersed discharge and dilution, and the treatment process will be upgraded to chemically enhanced primary sedimentation level in three weeks’ time to minimise the impact on nearby waters. The DSD and the Environmental Protection Department will monitor closely the water quality in the vicinity and release the results as appropriate.
Mrs Lam also watched the footage of the closed-circuit television taken at the sewage treatment works during the typhoon. She met with the DSD staff members who were on duty at the time and thanked them for their commitment to serving the public even in inclement weather.
Mrs Lam then visited the Marine Police East Division operational base which was also damaged by the typhoon to learn about its repair works. She met with Senior Police Inspector, Mr Thomas Chum, and listened to his account of the rescue operation led by him while typhoon signal No. 10 was being hoisted, in which four people who fell into the sea were successfully saved by his team. Mrs Lam applauded their bravery and team spirit.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Sai Kung District Council, Mr George Ng, and the Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janice Tse, Mrs Lam later went to the town centre in Sai Kung to learn more about the damage by the typhoon to the facilities on the promenade and vessels, and the marine refuse problem. She also chatted with seafood restaurant owners and fishermen to understand their situation. Mrs Lam noted that the Sai Kung town centre has almost resumed normal following efforts by the relevant departments and local people in the past few days. In addition, the Marine Department has been cleaning up marine refuse in the waters off Sai Kung since September 17. Nearly 90 tonnes of refuse have been collected so far and the operation is expected to be continued for a period of time.
“The HKSAR Government has been carrying out follow-up work proactively after the passage of the typhoon and the city has largely returned to normal. However, some of the facilities have been seriously damaged and the repair works will take some time, which may cause inconvenience to members of the public. I appeal for people’s patience and understanding.
“I have requested relevant departments to try their best to mobilise all possible resources to repair the facilities damaged by the typhoon within their ambit as soon as possible. All departments are aware that they would be allocated extra resources, if required, to ensure that follow-up work will be properly and quickly implemented. In addition, a special grant will be provided to schools and kindergartens concerned as announced by the Education Bureau earlier, and the Social Welfare Department has contacted the non-governmental organisations that provide subvented social welfare services to understand their needs,” Mrs Lam said.
