The $190 million storm water drainage scheme for western Hong Kong Island will be ready before the rainy season in 2009 and not delayed a year, a senior drainage official pledged yesterday.
But the promise failed to satisfy critics who said work should have started earlier to prevent people being affected by flooding.
Fears had been expressed last weekend that completion would be delayed to 2010 because of conflicts over the site of the pumping station.
Drainage Services Department deputy director Ko Wing-hon said the $160 million pumping station and a $30 million interceptor drain would be finished in early 2009, a few months earlier than planned.
He said construction of the pumping station was expected to start in October next year, once discussions by the Town Planning Board, district council and Legislative Council had been completed.
Work on the 1km drain between Lok Ku Street and Gilman's Bazaar in Sheung Wan would start next March.
The heavy downpour last Friday caused severe floods in Sheung Wan and the western district. Shopkeepers around Wing Lok Street in Sheung Wan battled floodwaters that wreaked havoc on stock and fittings.
