Flood concern spurs push for fast drainage fix

Toby Ng

The SAR administration will apply for funding and launch tenders for seven drainage improvement projects next year, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said.

Chief Executive John Lee has, in his recent policy address, set aside HK$8 billion for such works to strengthen Hong Kong's capabilities in coping with extreme weather conditions.

The HK$8 billion is being sought for improvements to the rainwater drainage system in areas such as Wong Tai Sin and Eastern.

In September, Typhoon Haikui brought a deluge in its wake that forced the Drainage Services Department to activate an "emergency control center" for more than 200 hours.

The number of emergency response teams for flooding incidents will increase from 70 to 144, composed of 550 workers, to clear clogged systems and address flooding incidents to restore normal societal operations as quickly as possible.

"In 2024-25, the department will apply for funding for seven projects. We will every effort to shorten the time required for project design, procurement and construction," said Joe Pun Ho-yin, senior engineer of Kowloon and South New Territories.

Linn said in her blog yesterday the department would complete a strategic planning study on flood management against sea level rise and extreme rainfall next year. It will assess the impact of climate change on the rainwater drainage system and formulate new and comprehensive flood control management strategies.

Institution of Engineers president Lee Chi-hong said our rainwater drainage system is comparable to New York, London, Tokyo and Singapore. The larger main channels in urban areas can handle rainfall with a return period of 200 years, while branch channels can handle rainfall with a return period of 50 years.

He said the purpose of designing and constructing rainwater drainage facilities is not to achieve "zero risk" of flooding but to minimize the risk and to facilitate the timely evacuation of water when flooding occurs to ensure a quick return to normal life.

"Hong Kong will continue to address climate change with forward-thinking strategies proactively. By expediting the implementation of multiple flood control projects, Hong Kong's flood resilience will be further enhanced," Linn said.