Flooding in the northern New Territories will be cut after drainage works are completed in 2006.

Director of Drainage Services Raymond Cheung said the completion of drainage rehabilitation works at Ping Yuen River and stage III regulation works on the Shenzhen River are due for completion in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Speaking in the Legislative Council today, Mr Cheung said the administration will endeavour to complete the critical sections of the Ping Yuen river training works as early as possible, in particular at the drainage outlet to the Shenzhen River, to bring early flood relief to low-lying areas in Ta Kwu Ling.

He said the location where a senior police inspector was washed away recently is a known flooding blackspot. It is a low-lying area and the existing drainage capacity could not cope with the deluge of May 5.

Mr Cheung said significant improvement was achieved after the completion of the major parts of the primary drainage channels in Yuen Long, Kam Tin, San Tin, Lo Wu and Sheung Shui.

Apart from Ta Kwu Ling, he said, no regional flooding was observed in these flood-prone areas, despite the very heavy rainfall.

Mr Cheung said the Government has a contingency plan to evacuate those affected by flooding, adding that all flooding blackspots have been put on the department's website.