The Drainage Services Department has awarded a contract worth $1.339 billion for construction of drainage tunnel to solve the flooding problem in Lai Chi Kok, Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po.

Construction is scheduled to begin on November 17 for completion in 2012.

The Lai Chi Kok drainage tunnel will collect surface run-off from the West Kowloon hinterland and potential overflow from the Kowloon group of reservoirs and discharge directly into Victoria Harbour near Stonecutters Island.

Diverting the upland flow to the Lai Chi Kok drainage tunnel will significantly reduce the extent of drainage road-opening works required in the congested West Kowloon lower catchment urban areas.

After the contract-signing ceremony today, Assistant Director of Drainage Services (Projects & Development) Tsui Wai said adopting this upstream stormwater flow-interception concept will keep public inconvenience to a minimum.

The contract comprises the construction of a tunnel 3.7 kilometres long and 4.9 metres in diameter from Chak On Estate to Victoria Harbour near Stonecutters Island, a stilling basin and outfall structure, six intakes and about 270 metres of connection tunnels, slope-stabilisation works and ancillary works.