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Concerted Efforts to Enhance Construction Craftsmanship
1. Concerted Efforts to Enhance Construction Craftsmanship The
following is issued on the behalf of the Housing Authority: The Housing Authority
(HA) and the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) will continue to
work together to build up a professional workforce in the construction industry,
which is vital to the delivery of quality construction. At a presentation ceremony
of trade test certificates for industry workers today (May 18 2002), the Acting
Director of Housing, Mr. Marco Wu Moon-hoi said the HA supported the development
of a visionary training strategy for the industry to upgrade the quality of the
workforce through continuous learning. Contract requirement for a minimum percentage
of trade tested workers for certain core trades was first introduced by the HA
in 1995. Under the Authority's Quality Housing Reform Programme, the percentage
has been gradually increased throughout the years, Mr. Wu noted. "Percentage
requirement in the HA's new piling and building tenders from April 1 2002 onwards
has been further raised to 60% and 26 core trades need to employ trade-tested
workers " said Mr. Wu, adding that the progress was on schedule as stated
out in the reform programme. Mr. Wu thanked the CITA for working closely with
the HA in the enhancement of the industry's craftsmanship and it also provided
tailor-made training courses for trades exclusively applicable in HA's projects.
Also officiating at today's ceremony was the Chairman of the CITA, Mr. Billy Wong
Wing-hoo who noted that the CITA had been conducting trade tests for construction
craftsmen since 1990. Today's ceremony marked the award of the 40,000th trade
test certificate. In addition to the provision of quality training to construction
personnel of all grades, the CITA is committed to promoting the industry's craftsmanship
and site safety, said Mr. Wong who welcomed the HA's move to raise the percentage
of trade tested workers in contract requirement. [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 18 May 2002] | 
