(Policy Address 2023) Hong Kong to push forward HK$8b drainage improvement projects

Hong Kong will inject HK$8 billion in drainage improvement works project and is now discussing with other mainland governments on the provision of cross-boundary ambulance services, Chief Executive John Lee said. 

“Our preparedness and emergency response to super typhoon and the torrential rain in September generally met expectations,” Lee noted. Still, he admitted there were technological constraints and said that there is room for improvement in enhancing the early-alert dissemination. 

To strengthen capability in coping with extreme weather conditions, Lee said the government will request departments and public bodies such as the Airport Authority and MTR Corp to conduct a comprehensive review of their contingency plans. 

Authorities will explore ways to use big data, AI and other technology to improve risk assessment capabilities on aspects of more uncertainties, such as meteorological forecast and alerts, flooding and landslide hazards. 

Lee continued that his cabinet will expeditiously move forward the HK$8 billion drainage improvement works project, covering Wong Tai Sin, Hong Kong Island East and other areas hit by severe floods in the past. 

The Drainage Services Department will complete its “Strategic Planning Study on Flood Management against Sea Level Rise and Extreme Rainfall” next year and develop a forward-looking strategy. 

Another approach is conducting systematic investigations and studies on major landslide incidents triggered by extreme rainstorms and devising focused measures of landslide mitigation for more natural slopes. 

Hong Kong together with other bay area cities will formulate, negotiate and implement a new Greater Bay Area Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan”, establishing a systematic emergency-response mechanism that is mutually complementary and in the spirit of joint prevention and collaboration. 

The SAR government is also discussing with other governments of bay area cities on the provision of cross-boundary ambulance service so as to enable direct point-to-point hospital transfer of patients for better support, Lee said.