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Engineer cut tapes in short-piling racket 2.
Boost for Shenzhen western corridor plan
1. Engineer cut tapes in short-piling racket
A Senior engineer went as far as cutting measuring tapes to cover up a short-piling
scandal involving a Sha Tin housing project, a High Court judge heard yesterday.
Eric Li Wai-hang, 44, admitted he had conspired with two others to defraud the
Housing Authority in connection with the $63 million Yuen Chau Kok project, where
two buildings had to be demolished as a result of short-piling. The project had
been awarded in February 1998 to Zen Pacific Civil Contractors but the foundation
works were illegally subcontracted to Hui Hon Contractors. The court heard how
Li, a representative of Zen Pacific and site agent for Hui Hon, dishonestly short-piled
the project before manipulating sonic tests and leading technicians to piles that
were the proper length in an attempt to fool the government that construction
complied with the contract. He will be sentenced next year, after his testimony
against Chan Kwong-yee and Tom Yiu Yiu-nam, both former directors of Hui Hon,
who are scheduled to stand trial in June. Deputy High Court Judge Michael McMahon
said he was concerned about leaving Li to ``have this sentencing hanging over
his head'' for nine months. ``Nevertheless, it's important any co-operation he
gives in due course be taken into account,'' he said. The court heard that last
year an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation revealed that
only four of 36 piles in the housing project complied with the contract regulations.
The investigation found the holes dug for the project were not lined with steel
tubes or rested on bedrock as required. As a result, soil had collapsed into the
hole so when concrete was poured into the hole it did not reach the proper depth.
Some piles were between two and 15 metres short of specification. [Source,
Hong Kong iMail, 12 October 2001] 2.
Boost for Shenzhen western corridor plan
Plans to build the $2.8 billion Hong Kong section of the $5 billion Shenzhen western
corridor take a major leap forward today when consultants apply to bid for the
detailed design and construction supervision contract. Twelve consultancy firms
were invited by the Highways Department to express interest in bidding for the
deal. They are: Atkins China, Babtie Asia, Binnie Black & Veatch, Halcrow Asia,
Hyder Consulting, Maunsell Consultants, Meinhardt, Mott Connell, Mouchel Asia,
Ove Arup Hong Kong, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Scott Wilson. Industry insiders said
five of the firms - Halcrow, Maunsell, Mott Connell, Arup and Scott Wilson - are
strongly favoured because of their involvement in existing major bridge schemes.
Last year, Halcrow won an international design competition for the Stonecutters
bridge. Arup later won an assignment for the detailed design of the bridge. Maunsell
is carrying out the detailed design and construction supervision for the Tsing
Lung bridge between Lantau and the New Territories. Scott Wilson engineered one
of the Rambler Channel bridges while Mott Connell designed the Tsing Ma suspension
bridge. Industry insiders said highways officials hope to shortlist consultants
by the end of next month. Tenders will then be invited for return by early January
with a contract award in February when detailed design will start. Construction
of the Hong Kong section of the 5.4-kilometre bridge link, that will connect Ngau
Hom Shek in the northwest New Territories with Nanshan in Shekou, will start in
2003. The link should be open in 2006-07. The Hong Kong section involves 2.9 kilometres
of viaduct and a 300-metre cable-stayed bridge to clear a marine navigation channel
in the Hong Kong waters of Deep Bay. The bridge will connect to the Deep Bay road
link which forms part of the Route 10 highway. Industry insiders said Maunsell
and Halcrow are part of groups that have been invited by mainland authorities
to bid for the detailed design and construction supervision of the Chinese section
of the western corridor bridge. This comprises the construction of 1.9 kilometres
of viaduct and a second 300-metre-long cable-stayed bridge spanning a marine channel
for cargo ships and ferries using Shekou port. The viaduct approaches on the mainland
side will connect with the Beihei highway which connects Shekou with Shenzhen.
Long-awaited plans for the Shenzhen western corridor are already fuelling a development
boom in the Nanshan area where large residential and commercial developments are
under way. The municipal authorities have recently built a district hospital to
upgrade existing facilities and to handle the influx of residents the new bridge
is expected to entice to the area. Local residents are hoping this growth in population
will also see a dramatic rise in property values where a new 700-square-foot flat
costs about $500,000. But construction of the six-lane bridge is worrying environmentalists
because of fears that environmental standards will not be properly monitored on
the mainland side. The Advisory Council on Environment said it lacks authority
to assess the entire project. Deep Bay borders Mai Po nature reserve and endangered
pink dolphins feed in the area. The bridge is expected to handle 88,000 vehicles
a day, relieving congestion at Man Kam To and Shau Tau Kok. [Source,
Hong Kong iMail, 12 October 2001] |  |
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