Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (April 30):
Question:
With regard to the use of precast paving slabs for pavement surfaces, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total area of pavement surfaces paved with precast paving slabs over the past two years and the amount of public expenditure involved, as well as the corresponding figures anticipated for the current and the coming year;
(b) of the methods employed by the relevant authorities to remove the weeds growing along the slits between the paving slabs and, if such methods include the use of herbicide, the measures in place to prevent the natural environment from being damaged; and
(c) as I have witnessed workers of utility companies leaving work vehicles and heavy machinery on the slab-paved pavements during repair works on underground facilities, how the authorities ensure that the utility companies concerned will properly carry out repairs to the pavement surfaces damaged as a result?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The total area of pavement surfaces paved with precast paving slabs over the past two years was about 370,000 square metres and the amount of expenditure involved was about $190 million. The corresponding figures for the current and the coming years are estimated to be about 150,000 square metres and $77 million respectively each year.
(b) At present, the weeds growing along the slits between paving slabs are removed manually. No herbicide has been used during the process.
(c) Any utility companies that need to carry out road opening works to repair underground utilities must apply to the Highways Department (HyD) for an Excavation Permit, in which a number of conditions are stipulated for compliance by the utility companies and their contractors. One of the conditions requires the permit holder to reinstate the road surface damaged as a result of the excavation works in accordance with the standard specified by the HyD and to be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the reinstated road surface within the 12 months after the completion of the reinstatement works.
In addition, the HyD conducts regular inspections on the road opening works carried out by utility companies. Whenever work vehicles and heavy machinery are found on pavements, the HyD will immediately ask the company concerned to remove them. If any pavement surface is damaged as a result, the HyD will also ask the company to reinstate it in accordance with the standard specified by the HyD.
End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003
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