27 August 1999

Ms LEUNG Siu-kum
CAS(1)2


Dear Ms LEUNG,


In preparation for the meeting of the LegCo Panel on Housing to be held on 1 September 1999, I would like to raise the following questions. Please refer them to the Housing Bureau and request an early reply in writing.

The Housing Department's responsibility for maintenance of slopes

1. Which of the slopes in Hong Kong are those that the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) claims that they are owned by the Housing Department (HD) but the latter considers that they are not under its care? Please provide a list of all such slopes showing their locations and the housing estates where they are located.

2. Regarding the slope failure incident at Skek Kip Mei Estate, GEO's Catalogue of Slopes (the GEO's Catalogue) shows that HD was identified as the department responsible for the management of the slope concerned as early as 1977, with only the ownership of the slope to be confirmed by the Lands Department (LD). After a lapse of over 20 years, why LD is now still unable to confirm the ownership of the slope?

3. According to the GEO's Catalogue, which slopes in Hong Kong fall within the geographical jurisdiction of HD while their ownership is yet to be confirmed by LD? What maintenance works have been carried out to these slopes and when? Please provide a table detailing such information.

4. At what time have maintenance works been carried out to the collapsed slope at Skek Kip Mei Estate? What risk rating is given by GEO to that slope according to the latest record?

Rehousing arrangements for residents of Skek Kip Mei Estate

1. Please set out the rehousing arrangements for residents of Blocks 35, 36 and 38 of Skek Kip Mei Estate. How many of the residents have declined HD's rehousing offers? What are the reasons and how HD will deal with the situation?