Site inspection: Director of Drainage Services Raymond Cheung updates Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao on North District flood prevention works which will be completed in 2006.

The Government will solve flooding progressively to safeguard citizens' lives and property, and it is determined to have major flood prevention works completed as soon as possible, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa says.

Mr Tung inspected flood prevention works in the Northern District this morning, and met with villagers to know more about the problems they face with the seasonal threat of floods.

Accompanied by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao, Mr Tung visited several families at Fung Wong Wu Village in Ta Kwu Ling, which was hard hit by flooding several years ago.

Problem to be solved within two years

He told villages that the problem will be solved within two years, and pledged the Government will complete the flood prevention works as soon as possible.

Flooding has always been Mr Tung's major concern. He called a special meeting at the end of May to have an update on the latest progress on flood prevention works in various districts.

While he noted the overall situation has improved, he urged Dr Liao to speed up the works as soon as possible, in particular those in the hardest-hit areas.

Gov't vows to safeguard citizens' lives, property

Mr Tung has also expressed concern that flooding in certain areas in the Northern District and Kowloon remains serious.

"Flooding is a longstanding problem and it cannot be resolved overnight. However, the Government is determined to have the major works completed as soon as possible. We are capable of solving the problems progressively to safeguard the lives and property of citizens," he said.

The Government spent $5 billion in the past 10 years on a series of river training and flood prevention works. Flooding at 72 blackspots has been resolved since 1995.