PWSC(97-98)94
For discussion
on 7 January 1998


ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS
SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 707 - NEW TOWNS AND URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT
Housing - Rural housing improvement
Transport - Roads
18HH - Village improvements and development schemes in the New Territories
446TH- Improvement, reconstruction and extension of village access roads in the New Territories

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -

  1. the upgrading of part of 18HH, entitled "Village improvements and development schemes in the New Territories: 1998-99 Programme", to Category A at an estimated cost of $178.0 million in money-of-the-day prices;

  2. the upgrading of part of 446TH, entitled "Improvement, reconstruction and extension of village access roads in the New Territories: 1998-99 Programme", to Category A at an estimated cost of $206.1 million in money-of-the-day prices; and

  3. the retention of the remainders of 18HH and 446TH in Category B.

PROBLEM

Some villages in the New Territories (NT) lack basic amenities and infrastructure and suffer problems arising from pollution and local flooding.

PROPOSAL

2.The Director of Home Affairs, with the support of the Secretary for Home Affairs, proposes to upgrade parts of 18HH and 446TH to Category A at a total estimated cost of $384.1 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices to implement the 1998-99 programme of the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (RPIS) in the rural New Territories.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3.The scope of RPIS works comprises -

  1. works related to infrastructural improvement or development within village layouts and the provision of serviced land for village expansion;

  2. the provision of sewerage networks and treatment plants to unsewered developments within the village confines (major sewers relating to the implementation of the Sewerage Masterplan Studies carried out by the Environmental Protection Department are excluded from the RPIS);

  3. improvements and extensions to existing village roads and van tracks with footpaths, passing places and associated drainage;

  4. incorporation of new amenities such as sitting-out areas, children's playgrounds and gardens in existing village layouts;

  5. works related to land drainage, river training and flood protection schemes for villages;

  6. the provision and improvement of communal irrigation and field drainage facilities as well as farm access in selected agricultural areas; and

  7. other related works endorsed by the RPIS Minor Works District Working Groups and approved by the RPIS Minor Works Steering Committee.

Details of the proposed works are at Enclosures I and II.

JUSTIFICATION

4.We need to improve the environmental conditions of some rural villages in the New Territories which have deteriorated due to local flooding and pollution arising from human, animal and industrial sources. The RPIS is a coherent strategy endorsed by the Executive Council in 1989 to improve the basic amenities and infrastructure in the rural areas in the New Territories. The strategy focuses on the implementation of a 10-year programme of infrastructural development and environmental improvement. The proposed works constitute the 1998-99 programme of the RPIS with the cost of each works item being not greater than $15 million.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.We estimate the total capital cost of the 1998-99 programme of works to be $384.1 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 6 below), made up as follows -

ItemDistrict$ million
(a)18HH(i) Islands29.0
(ii) Kwai Tsing0.7
(iii) North15.5
(iv) Sai Kung8.7
(v) Sha Tin7.6
(vi) Tai Po11.1
(vii) Tsuen Wan 20.7
(viii) Tuen Mun11.7
(ix) Yuen Long27.1
(x) Contingencies9.3
Sub-total141.4(at
December
1996 prices)
(xi) Inflation allowance36.6
Total178.0 (in MOD
prices)
(b) 446TH(i) Islands 19.2
(ii) Kwai Tsing0.8
(iii) North45.6
(iv) Sai Kung30.3
(v) Tai Po19.9
(vi) Tsuen Wan2.8
(vii) Tuen Mun30.5
(viii) Yuen Long3.6
(ix) Contingencies10.7
Sub-total163.4(at December 1996 prices)
(x) Inflation allowance42.7
Total206.1(in MOD prices)

6.Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows:-

Year$ million
(Dec 1996)
Price
adjustment
factor
$ million
(MOD)
18HH446TH18HH446TH
1998 - 199930.1 30.11.16358 35.0 35.0
1999 - 200095.4115.91.26830 121.0147.0
2000 - 200115.9 17.41.38244 22.0 24.1
Total141.4163.4 178.0206.1

7.We have derived the MOD estimates on the basis of the Government's forecast of trend labour and construction prices from 1998 to 2001. The proposed works consist of 125 small improvement projects. We will use fixed-price lump-sum contracts for most of these items which will be managed by the relevant works departments and the works teams of NT District Offices. For some items, we will use existing remeasurement term contracts of the relevant works departments.

8.We estimate the annually recurrent expenditure to be $15.78 million at December 1996 prices.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

9.We consulted nine NT Provisional District Boards between September 1997 and November 1997. All indicated their support or had no objection to the proposed projects. Details of the consultations with the relevant Provisional District Boards are at Enclosure III.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

10.The RPIS programme involves small scale works in rural areas and in general, their implementation will improve the rural environment. As they are minor projects, there will be no adverse environmental impacts during operation. Moreover, we will design and implement the projects in accordance with the "RPIS Minor Projects Environmental Guidance Note" issued by the Director of Environmental Protection. For short-term impacts during construction, we will implement environmental pollution control measures under the relevant works contracts to mitigate noise, dust and site run-off nuisances.

LAND ACQUISITION

11.We will resume about 970 square metres of agricultural land for the proposed works. We will charge the cost of land acquisition, estimated at $64 million, to Head 701 - Land Acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

12.We included 18HH and 446TH in the Public Works Programme in October 1990 for the implementation of a rolling programme of infrastructural development and environmental improvement works in the rural New Territories as formulated in the RPIS, at that time under the co-ordination of the Director of Territory Development. The Director of Home Affairs took over responsibility for the administration and co-ordination of minor RPIS projects in October 1994.

13.We revised the scope of both 18HH and 446TH in December 1991 and January 1994 respectively to include improvement works falling within country park areas and rural areas that are within new towns. We upgrade works under these two items to Category A on an annual programme basis.

14.We plan to start the proposed works under 18HH and 446TH in June 1998 for completion in July 2000.


Home Affairs Bureau
December 1997


Enclosure I to PWSC(97-98)94

Proposed project list for the
Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (1998-99 Programme)

18HH - Village improvements and development schemes in the New Territories

ItemDistrictProject Title
1IslandsConstruction of bund wall at Wang Hang, Tai O
2IslandsImprovement to slope at Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O
3IslandsConstruction of water supply system at Tai Long Wan, Lantau
4IslandsConstruction of water supply system at Lai Chi Yuen and Wan Tsai, Lantau
5Kwai TsingSlope improvement works near the access road to Bradbury Siu Hong Home, Shing Mun, Kwai Chung
6NorthConstruction of Wa Mei Shan village expansion area (site formation, road, drainage and sewerage), Fanling
7NorthImprovement works to irrigation intakes in Ta Kwu Ling area
8NorthConstruction of open channel near Tai Long Village, Sha Tau Kok
9NorthConstruction of paving and drainage at Chi Tong Tsuen, Fanling
10NorthConstruction of drainage channel outside Kun Lung Wai, Lung Yeuk Tau, Fanling
11NorthConstruction of paving and drainage channel at Chow Tin, Ta Kwu Ling
12NorthConstruction of open channel at San Tsuen, Sha Tau Kok
13NorthImprovement to water supply to Ap Chau, Sha Tau Kok
14NorthConstruction of drainage channel at Liu Pok San Tsuen, Sheung Shui
15Sai KungConstruction of drainage channel at Wai Sum Village, Mang Kung Uk, Hang Hau
16Sai KungConstruction of drainage channel at Hang Hau Village, Hang Hau
17Sai KungImprovement to breakwater at Yim Tin Tsai
18Sai KungConstruction of drainage channel at Yu Uk Village, Mang Kung Uk, Hang Hau
19Sai KungImprovement to drainage channel at Tseng Lan Shue Upper Village, Hang Hau
20Sha TinConstruction of water supply system at Fa Sam Hang
21Tai PoReclamation at Ha Wai, Tap Mun, Sai Kung North
22Tai PoReconstruction of rainshelter and sitting-out area at Sam Mun Tsai
23Tai PoImprovement to footpath and stream embankment at Nam Hang
24Tai PoImprovement to paving near Ma Wo pavilion
25Tai PoConstruction of pavilion and paving at Ko Lau Wan, Sai Kung North
26Tsuen WanImprovement to water pipeline at Tsing Lung Tau Village
27Tsuen WanConstruction of channel at Pai Min Kok Village
28Tsuen WanImprovement to pipeline at Chuen Lung
29Tsuen WanConstruction of retaining wall at Sheung Kok Shan, Lo Wai
30Tsuen WanReconstruction of concrete paving in front of Tin Hau Temple, Ma Wan
31Tsuen WanConstruction of paving and channel at Kwan Mun Hau Tsuen
32Tsuen WanImprovement to water supply system at Luk Keng
33Tsuen WanConstruction of water supply system at Lo Wai
34Tsuen WanConstruction of pier near Tai Pa Kok Burial Ground at Ma Wan
35Tuen MunImprovement to stream embankment at Kar Wo Lei, So Kwun Wat
36Tuen MunImprovement to sitting-out area at So Kwun Wat
37Tuen MunImprovement to Tai Lam Chung Road children's playground
38Tuen MunImprovement to sitting-out area at Cafeteria Old Beach
39Tuen MunConstruction of paving at Tsing Shan Tsuen
40Tuen MunConstruction of paving at Kar Wo Lei Village, So Kwun Wat
41Tuen MunConstruction of open channel and access road at Siu Sau Tsuen
42Yuen LongDrainage improvement at Chun Hing Sun Tsuen, Ping Shan (phase II)
43Yuen LongDrainage improvement at San Sang Tsuen, Ha Tsuen
44Yuen LongDrainage improvement at San Uk Tsuen, Ha Tsuen
45Yuen LongDrainage improvement at Tin Sam Tsuen, Ha Tsuen
46Yuen LongGeneral village improvement at Fung Kat Heung, Kam Tin
47Yuen LongImprovement to drainage channel, paving and footpath at Sha Po Tsuen, Kam Tin
48Yuen LongDrainage improvement at Wing Ling San Tsuen, Kam Tin
49Yuen LongDrainage improvement at Lin Fa Tei Tsuen, Pat Heung
50Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel along Fan Kam Road near Sheung Che, Pat Heung
51Yuen LongDrainage improvement at Shan Ha Tsuen, Ping Shan (phase III)
52Yuen LongGeneral village improvement at Hang Tau Tsuen and Hang Mei Tsuen, Ping Shan
53Yuen LongImprovement to drainage channel and access road at Ha Chuk Yuen Tsuen, San Tin
54Yuen LongImprovement to paving and drainage channel at Yan Sau Wai, San Tin
55Yuen LongImprovement to drainage channel and footpath at Fan Tin Tsuen, San Tin
56Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel at Yeung Uk Tsuen, Shap Pat Heung
57Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel at Pak Sha Tsuen, Shap Pat Heung
58Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel at Ng Wo (Choi Uk, Tung Tau, Tai Wai, Ying Lung Wai and Wong Uk), Shap Pat Heung (phase II)
59Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel at Shan Pui Tsuen, Shap Pat Heung
60Yuen LongConstruction of drainage channel at Shung Ching San Tsuen, Shap Pat Heung


Enclosure II to PWSC(97-98)94

Proposed project list for the
Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (1998-99 Programme)

446TH - Improvement, reconstruction and extension of village access roads in the New Territories

ItemDistrictProject Title
1IslandsConstruction of country trail at Tung O, South Lamma
2IslandsReconstruction of footpath from Nga Ying Kok to Yi O, Tai O
3IslandsConstruction of country trail at Po Toi, South Lamma (phase IV)
4IslandsConstruction of footpath between Tung Wan Tau and Mang Kok Tsui, Mui Wo
5IslandsConstruction of country trail at Tung Wan Tsai, Cheung Chau
6IslandsReconstruction of footpath between Shap Long and Shui Tseng Wan, South Lantau
7IslandsReconstruction of footpath between Tai Long and Lung Mei, South Lantau
8IslandsReconstruction of footpath between Lai Chi Yuen and Ngau Kwu Wan, South Lantau
9IslandsReconstruction of footpath from San Shek Wan to Sha Lo Wan, Tai O
10IslandsConstruction of footpath along Pak Wan, Peng Chau
11IslandsConstruction of footpath from Lo So Shing Beach to Mo Tat, South Lamma
12Kwai TsingConstruction of footpath from Shek Lei (I) Estate to Castle Peak Road (adjacent to Greenknoll Court), Kwai Chung
13NorthConstruction of vehicular bridge at Cheung Lek, Sheung Shui
14NorthConstruction of access road from Ma Wat Wai to Lung Yeuk Tau village expansion area
15NorthImprovement to footbridge and van track at Lung Hau, Ma Tso Lung, Sheung Shui
16NorthConstruction of access road at Tsung Pak Long, Sheung Shui
17NorthImprovement to van track at Hung Kiu San Tsuen, Sheung Shui
18NorthImprovement to van track at Tan Chuk Hang, Lo Wai, Fanling
19NorthImprovement to van track at Wang Lang and Kwan Tei, Fanling
20NorthImprovement to footpath between Tai Po Tin and Yuen Ha, Ta Kwu Ling
21NorthImprovement to footpath from Ling Ying Public School to Sam Woo Public School, Ta Kwu Ling
22NorthConstruction of access road at Wo Keng Shan, Ta Kwu Ling
23NorthImprovement to van track and stream embankment at Li Uk Tsuen, Ta Kwu Ling
24NorthImprovement to van track at Tai Lung, Sheung Shui
25NorthDrainage and access road improvement at Tung Fong, Kwu Tung, Sheung Shui
26NorthImprovement to road embankments at Ying Pun, Sheung Shui
27NorthImprovement to footpath and channel at Shan Kai Wat Ha Tsuen, Ta Kwu Ling
28NorthImprovement to footbridge and footpath at San Uk Tsai Tsuen, Fanling
29NorthImprovement to footpath at Cheung Uk Tsuen, Li Uk Tsuen, Nam Chung, Sha Tau Kok
30NorthImprovement to footpath and drainage channel at Sheung Shan Kai Wat, Ta Kwu Ling
31NorthImprovement to footpath and drainage channel at Po Sheung Tsuen, Sheung Shui
32NorthImprovement to footpath and drainage channel at Wai Loi, Sheung Shui Heung, Sheung Shui
33NorthImprovement to footpath at Ping Kong, Sheung Shui
34NorthImprovement to footpath and drainage channel at Hang Tau, Sheung Shui
35NorthImprovement to footpath at Kuk Po Lo Wai, Sha Tau Kok
36Sai KungUpgrading of Lung Ha Wan Road from Clear Water Bay Road to Tai Hang Hau
37Sai KungImprovement to Leung Fai Tin upper junction
38Sai KungReconstruction of footpath at Pak A
39Sai KungImprovement to van track at Kai Ham
40Sai KungImprovement to van track at Mau Po, Hang Hau
41Sai KungReconstruction of Shan Liu Lower Road
42Sai KungImprovement to van track at Tsui Hang
43Sai KungReconstruction of footpath from Tai Long Au leading to Ham Tin
44Sai KungConstruction of van track from Clear Water Bay Road leading to Wai Sum Village at Mang Kung Uk, Hang Hau
45Tai PoReconstruction of vehicular bridge at Tai Tan Village, Sai Kung North
46Tai PoUpgrading of van track at Ng Tung Chai, Lam Tsuen
47Tai PoConstruction of country trail from Wun Yiu to Ma Wo
48Tai PoConstruction of footpath near Kau Shi Wai, Fung Yuen
49Tai PoImprovement to van track leading to Kau Lung Hang
50Tai PoReconstruction of van track at Nam Wah Po
51Tai PoImprovement to van track leading to Tai Wo
52Tai PoImprovement to van track at Tai Hang
53Tsuen WanReconstruction of footpath at Tsing Fai Tong
54Tsuen WanReconstruction of van track near Yuen Yuen Institute, Lo Wai
55Tsuen WanConstruction of van track at Sheung Kwai Chung
56Tuen MunConstruction of vehicular bridge at Lo Fu Hang
57Tuen MunImprovement to access road at Siu Sau Sheung Tsuen
58Tuen MunImprovement to access road at So Kwun Wat South
59Tuen MunImprovement to van track at San Shek Wan San Tsuen
60Tuen MunConstruction of Tsing Shan Trail
61Tuen MunConstruction of access road at Siu Lang Shui
62Tuen MunConstruction of footpath along stream embankment at Tsing Chuen Wai
63Yuen LongImprovement to van track and drainage channel at Kam Hing Wai, Kam Tin
64Yuen LongImprovement to van track and drainage channel at Wang Toi Shan San Tsuen, Pat Heung
65Yuen LongImprovement to van track at Tai Sang Wai, San Tin (phase II)


Enclosure III to PWSC(97-98)94

Public Consultation for the Implementation of
Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy 1998-99 programme

DistrictDateMode of consultationRemarks
Islands27 October 1997Provisional District Board meetingProject items were supported.
Kwai Tsing3 November 1997Provisional District Board circulation of papers No objections to projects
North4 November 1997Provisional District Board circulation of papers Project items were supported.
Sai Kung23 October 1997Provisional District Board meetingProject items were supported.
Sha Tin28 October1997Provisional District Board meetingProject item was supported.
Tai Po12 September 1997Provisional District Board meetingProject items were supported.
Tsuen Wan4 November 1997Provisional District Board meetingNo objections to projects
Tuen Mun4 November 1997Provisional District Board meetingProject items were supported.
Yuen Long23 October 1997Provisional District Board meetingProject items were supported