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New initiatives for better working environment at construction
sites 2.
LC: Speech by Secretary for Works
1. New initiatives for better working environment at construction sites The
Works Bureau (WB) has set out three initiatives for this year to improve the safety
and working environment at construction sites. This was revealed by the Secretary
for Works, Mr Lee Shing-see, at the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme
2001 Award Presentation Ceremony this (March 25) afternoon. "The first initiative
is to step up the effort on cleanliness and tidiness at construction sites,"
Mr Lee said. He explained that for tenders to be invited after mid April 2002,
awarded contractors would have to comply with an enhanced specification which
would require the contractors to carry out daily and weekly overall cleaning and
tidying up of the sites. "Payment will be made to contractors under a separate
Bill of Quantities upon their satisfactory performance on site cleanliness and
tidiness," he added. Mr Lee also disclosed that to improve the safety at
construction sites, a Site Safety Cycle Scheme in public works contracts under
the Pay for Safety Scheme would be implemented this year. The purpose of such
scheme is to raise the safety awareness of site personnel, in particular construction
workers, and to enhance management at site level especially on safety and tidiness
to reduce accidents. Another initiative is to enhance the implementation of waste
management plan and introduce measures abating environmental nuisance for construction
projects. The proposal under consideration included the integration of monitoring
and control of waste management into the daily administration of the project.
Consideration would also be given to new measures for reducing, reusing and recycling
construction waste, and for abating environmental nuisance caused by construction
works. Turning to construction site safety, Mr Lee noted that the safety performance
for public works contracts had been continuously improving for a number of years.
The accident rate for public works contracts was reduced to 33 accidents per 1,000
workers in 2001, representing a further reduction of 28% of accident rates as
compared with that in 2000. In 1999 and 2000, the annual accident rates for public
works contracts were 55 and 46 accidents per 1,000 workers respectively. "While
we are largely satisfied with the overall safety performance of public works contractors,
there is no place for complacency," Mr Lee said. "Safety is a shared
responsibility of the top management as well as frontline workers," he said.
The Secretary said that there had been a strong public desire that Government
should upgrade construction site safety and cleanliness. He said the Considerate
Contractors Site Award Scheme, organised by the WB and well received from the
construction industry since 1995, was an initiative in response to this public
inspiration. "We wish to develop a considerate culture across the construction
industry so that contractors not only care for their own welfare, but also other
people in their neighbourhood," he added. Out of 110 sites participating
in the award scheme, a total of 40 sites received the awards today, including
20 public sites and 20 private sector sites. The officiating guests at today's
ceremony included Chairman of the Provisional Construction Industry Co-ordination
Board, the Hon. Henry Tang; Director of Buildings, Mr Leung Chin-man; Commissioner
for Labour, Mrs Pamela Tan; and Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mr
Mike Stokoe. Also included were President of the Hong Kong Construction Association,
Mr Billy Wong; Vice-President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Dr Alex
Chan and Vice-President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Mr Bernard Hui. [Source:
Works Bureau, 25 March 2002] 2.
LC: Speech by Secretary for Works
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Works, Mr Lee Shing-see, at the special
meeting of the Finance Committee in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
Mr Chairman, I would like to start with some brief remarks before answering questions
from Honourable Members. Capital Works Programme We have achieved excellent results
in our endeavour to ensure the timely implementation of the capital works programme.
By the end of this financial year, the actual expenditure on the capital works
programme is expected to be about $24.8 billion. This slightly exceeds our original
target of $24.5 billion as a result of the satisfactory progress of a number of
major projects. Despite the current economic downturn and budget deficit, Government
will maintain the momentum of investing in public works. In the coming financial
year, we will spend $28.5 billion, including some 390 new works contracts and
consultancy agreements and an extra $2 billion to be injected in various minor
works. This represents an increase of about 15% over the expenditure this year.
Apart from supporting the continued growth of the economy and improving the quality
of life of the community, our robust investment on infrastructure will have the
immediate effect of creating employment opportunities. In 2001, we created some
25,000 new job opportunities through the new-start public works. With a substantial
increase in the amount of both capital and minor works in 2002, we expect to create
more than 30,000 job opportunities. Fast-tracking of Public Works Projects In
order to fast-track works projects, we have already streamlined the procedures
which have resulted in shortening the pre-construction lead-time. In the coming
year, we shall continue to further improve the delivery of public works through
streamlining the procedures for resolving public objections. We will reduce the
time taken for every activity in the programme as much as possible without compromising
the quality of works and opportunities for public participation in our projects.
Review of the Tendering System To ensure the quality of works projects, Works
Bureau has reviewed the current tendering system and has decided to introduce
in 2002 a standard marking scheme for tender evaluation which will systematically
take into account both tender price and quality of tender. We are also examining
the feasibility of formulating guidelines for rejecting unreasonably low bids.
Moreover, we are reviewing the listing criteria and shortlisting arrangements
for architectural and associated consultancies to encourage more new entrants
and to drive for continuous performance improvement. Construction Industry
Review Works Bureau is taking forward the recommendations of the Construction
Industry Review Committee. We have assumed a new role as the lead agency within
Government responsible for co-ordinating all construction-related matters. Under
the joint efforts of Government and the industry, notable progress has been made
in major areas covering quality culture, manpower development, efficiency, innovation
and productivity, etc. We will continue to work closely with the Provisional Construction
Industry Co-ordination Board, set up last September, to strive for continuous
improvement as well as enhanced competitiveness of the construction industry.
Works Departments Now, I would like to say a few words on the work of the
Works Departments. The Architectural Services Department will continue the construction
works under the Whole Day Primary School Programme and improvement works for over
150 schools under the School Improvement Programme. The Department has also implemented
an accelerated programme for some 60 municipal projects involving new leisure
and cultural facilities. The Department has recently embarked on a re-engineering
exercise which involves strengthening its professional role as Government's corporate
adviser on public building development and maintenance matters; increasing the
out-sourcing of new building projects and devolving some of its maintenance activities
to client departments and organizations. The Department is now formulating detailed
implementation plans to achieve these objectives. The Civil Engineering Department
will continue to upgrade 250 government slopes and conduct safety screening on
300 private slopes per year under the 10-Year Extended Landslip Preventive Measures
(LPM) Programme started in 2000. The Department also endeavours to make slopes
greener by landscaping every slope upgraded under the LPM Programme. To encourage
private owners to improve the appearance of their slopes, the Department will
produce a layman's guide on landscape treatment. Moreover, the Department will
continue to implement the essential infrastructure for the development of Hong
Kong Disneyland. The Drainage Services Department will continue to implement extensive
flood control and mitigation projects in the territory. Initial improvements are
provided to relieve the flooding problem in New Territories following the progressive
completion of river training works at the lower reaches of Kam Tin River, Indus
River, Beas River and Shenzhen River in the past few years. Upon substantial completion
of the remaining river training works at Kam Tin River, Ngau Tam Mei River and
Indus River by 2003, the flooding problem in New Territories will be much reduced.
The drainage upgrading works in West Kowloon are in full swing with the critical
works scheduled for completion in 2004. New drainage improvement projects costing
about $1.6 billion will start construction in 2002/03 to further improve stormwater
drainage infrastructure of the territory. The Electrical and Mechanical Services
Trading Fund has achieved remarkable financial performance and productivity gains
since its establishment in 1996. All government departments and autonomous bodies
will be free to choose service providers for electrical and mechanical services
in the market by August 2002. To maintain its competitiveness, the Trading Fund
will continue to enhance its service and offer better prices to customers. The
Highways Department is bringing forward a number of major highways projects, including
Route 9 from Tsing Yi to Shatin, Shenzhen Western Corridor and Deep Bay Link.
The Department is also implementing the essential public infrastructure works
for a number of new railway lines in the urban area and in the New Territories,
including the MTRC Tseung Kwan O Extension, KCRC West Rail, Tsim Sha Tsui Extension
and Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link. The Territory Development Department will
continue its efforts on land formation and infrastructure works for a number of
major development areas, such as South East Kowloon Development, Central Reclamation
Phase III and Wan Chai Development Phase II. Detailed design of the South East
Kowloon Development commenced in January 2002 and that of Wan Chai Development
Phase II in April 2002. Construction works on Central Reclamation Phase III are
scheduled to start in August this year. The Water Supplies Department will continue
to extend the water supply system to meet future demands arising from new developments.
To enhance the quality of Dongjiang water supply, the first stage of the closed
aqueduct in Guangdong will be completed by end 2002. Water quality data of Dongjiang
water will continue to be updated and posted on WSD's website periodically. WSD
will continue to work towards achieving total savings of 10% in its recurrent
expenditure through an efficiency and productivity improvement programme by 2003/04.
Mr Chairman, the Works Directors and I will be pleased to answer any questions
Honourable Members may have. [Source:
Works Bureau, 26 March 2002] |  |
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