Further delays in sewage tunnels 'fiasco'

Construction of the controversial sewage tunnel network will suffer further delays because of geological problems, an official admitted yesterday.

Director of Drainage Services John Collier told legislators the $3 billion Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme, due for completion in May 1997, would now take 'four to eight months more'.

The Auditor's Report revealed last November that measures to reduce delays had cost $143.4 million.

Professor Ng Ching-fai, non-affiliated, said that the project had been branded a 'fiasco' by the engineering community.

Mr Collier said the best estimate now was that all tunnels would be completed next year.

'We've major problems with only one tunnel, but unfortunately reports in the media provided only a one-sided story,' he said.

Professor Ng, claiming the actual delay was more than three years, accused Mr Collier of misleading the public.

'Your answer is simply evasive, you know best what 'best estimate' really means,' he said.

The 25km tunnel network, to carry sewage from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island for treatment at Stonecutters Island, includes two western tunnels and four eastern channels.

The original contractor suspended work on all six tunnels in mid-1996, claiming it could not comply with the contract specifications.

The case had been referred to Britain for arbitration. Mr Collier said claims for compensation would not be known until late next year.

The work was subsequently re-let under three separate contracts, each for two tunnels.

Work in the western tunnels had been delayed by a problems with a system installed by the previous contractor.

The progress of all six tunnels had been hit by geological problems. Weak rock had caused tunnel roofs to collapse at least twice.