1 Results of the 2007 Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors
Hong Kong Government, 28 November 2008
According to the results of the 2007 Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors released today (November 28) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the gross output of the construction sector was $148.2 billion in 2007, representing an increase of 3.5% over 2006.
The gross operating surplus of the construction sector, which is equal to gross output less total operating expenditure, increased by 11.0% to $7.9 billion in 2007 as compared with 2006. The proportion of gross operating surplus in gross output was 5.3%, slightly higher than that of 5.0% in 2006.
The value added of the construction sector, which is a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product, was $42.4 billion in 2007, representing an increase of 6.2% over 2006.
The survey did not cover labour-only sub-contractors that mainly supplied labour to work on a job-to-job basis. However, the gross value of construction works performed by these sub-contractors had already been included in that performed by those contractors commissioning their services.
In addition to the construction sector, the survey also enumerated establishments engaged in real estate development, leasing, brokerage and maintenance management services; and architectural, surveying and project engineering services.
The gross output of establishments engaged in real estate development, leasing, brokerage and maintenance management services was $106.9 billion in 2007, representing an increase of 15.6% over 2006.
In 2007, the gross operating surplus of these establishments taken together rose by 16.7% from a year earlier to $63.9 billion. The proportion of gross operating surplus in gross output was 59.8%, higher than that of 59.2% in 2006.
The value added of these establishments taken together was $79.9 billion in 2007, representing a 17.4% increase from a year earlier.
In 2007, the total number of private building projects ever operated was 204. Among them, 67 were on Hong Kong Island, 72 in Kowloon and 65 in the New Territories and outlying islands. As at end-2007, 154 projects, which would together provide 7.0 million square metres gross floor area of buildings when completed, were still under construction.
The survey did not include establishments which developed real estate projects for their own use, nor did it include those which owned land but without developing it during the reference year. Also excluded were real estate leasing and other related activities undertaken by individuals or firms which engaged less than two persons (except for subsidiaries of real estate enterprises).
As regards establishments engaged in architectural, surveying and project engineering services, the gross output in 2007 was $8.9 billion, representing an increase of 2.2% from a year earlier.
In 2007, the gross operating surplus of these establishments taken together decreased significantly by 24.8% from a year earlier to $0.7 billion. The proportion of gross operating surplus in gross output was 7.7%, lower than that of 10.4% in 2006.
In 2007, the value added of these establishments taken together was $5.8 billion, representing an increase of 2.9% from a year earlier.
The attached table shows the summary results of the survey.
The survey was conducted from January to October 2008. More detailed survey results will be given in the "Report on 2007 Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors".
The C&SD has recently conducted a review on the printing of statistical publications and has decided that the print version of "Report on Annual Survey of Building, Construction and Real Estate Sectors" will no longer be produced starting from this edition. Nevertheless, the publication is still available for downloading free of charge from the website of C&SD at here. Users can download the 2007 edition of the publication as from end December 2008.
For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD at telephone 2882 4684 or email (building@censtatd.gov.hk).
2 Proposed sewerage works at Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road approved
Hong Kong Government, 28 November 2008
The Chief Executive in Council has authorised a scheme for sewerage works at Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road in Area 54, Tuen Mun, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (November 28).
The sewerage works at Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road mainly involve constructing about 500 metres of rising mains, about 450 metres of gravity sewers, associated manholes and ancillary works. The works will be carried out along Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road in conjunction with the proposed road works under the project "Formation, Roads and Drains in Area 54, Tuen Mun, Phase 2 Package 1A – Improvement to Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road".
"The scheme will provide a sewerage system for the new housing development near Tsing Lun Road and Tsz Tin Road, and will connect with the proposed sewerage system in Tuen Mun North and West. The scheme will effectively convey the collected sewage for proper treatment and disposal, which will improve the living environment of the area and help reduce pollution of the coastal water of Tuen Mun," the spokesman said.
Construction works, to be carried out by the Civil Engineering and Development Department, are scheduled to commence in 2010 for completion by 2013.
Details of the sewerage scheme were published in the Government Gazette on December 14 and 21 last year. Approval for the sewerage scheme was gazetted today.
3 Elevated walkways across Harcourt Road and Tim Mei Avenue gazetted
Hong Kong Government, 28 November 2008
The Government published a notice in the Gazette today (November 28) on a proposal to construct two elevated walkways across Harcourt Road and Tim Mei Avenue to meet the future pedestrian demand arising from the Tamar Development Project.
Proposed works include an elevated walkway across Harcourt Road connecting Tamar and the footpath adjacent to Admiralty Centre, consisting of a western walkway approximately 5 metres wide and an eastern covered walkway approximately 8 metres wide. The works also involve building a covered elevated walkway approximately 6.5 metres wide across Tim Mei Avenue to connect Tamar and the existing Citic Tower Elevated Walkway System; provision of escalators, staircase and lifts associated with the proposed elevated walkways; and ancillary works such as drainage, landscaping and utility works.
Some sections of the existing carriageways, footpaths and amenity areas will be temporarily or permanently closed and reconstructed.
The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
(i) Central and Western District Office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, Unit 5, Ground Floor, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central; and
(ii) District Lands Office, Hong Kong West and South, 20th Floor, Southorn Centre, 130-150 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
Any person who wishes to object to the proposed works or the use, or both, should write to the Secretary for Transport and Housing, 16th Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong, on or before January 27, 2009.
4 Reconstruction of footbridge across Lung Cheung Road gazetted
Hong Kong Government, 28 November 2008
The Government published a notice in the Gazette today (November 28) on a proposal to reconstruct a footbridge across Lung Cheung Road near Hsin Kuang Centre to enhance the pedestrian crossing facility.
Proposed works include permanent closure and demolition of the existing footbridge, associated ramps and staircases across Lung Cheung Road near Hsin Kuang Centre; construction of a covered footbridge with clear width of 4 metres with associated staircases and lifts at the above-mentioned location; conversion of sections of the existing landscape areas into footpaths; construction of sections of footpaths, carriageway and landscape areas; and ancillary works including drainage, landscaping and electrical and mechanical works.
Some sections of the existing footpaths and carriageways as well as areas underneath the existing footbridge will be closed permanently or temporarily.
The works will start in early 2010 for completion by 2012.
The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
(i) Central and Western District Office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, Unit 5, G/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central;
(ii) Wong Tai Sin District Office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, Unit 201, 2nd Floor, Lung Cheung Office Block, 138 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin ; and
(iii)District Lands Office, Kowloon East, 10th Floor, Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building, 250 Shanghai Street.
Any person who wishes to object to the proposed works or the use, or both, should write to the Secretary for Transport and Housing, 16th Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong, on or before January 27, 2009.
5 Construction of bridge could start next year 3 governments endorse report
Anita Lam and Ivan Zhai in Guangzhou, SCMP 28 November 2008
Construction of the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge could begin next year after the three governments agreed to start looking for design contractors without waiting for Beijing's final approval.
Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong will advertise for tenders for the design work on Monday, and Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said she hoped construction could begin next year instead of 2010 as originally planned.
Speaking after the three governments endorsed a feasibility report for the bridge across the Pearl River, Ms Cheng said they wanted to press ahead with the work to create much-needed jobs as soon as possible.
"We have considered [the creation of jobs] so we will start the design work when the plan is submitted to the central government for consideration," she said.
"We will also push forward the schedule of any job that can be done earlier, such as surveying works."
Li Miaojuan, director general of Guangdong's Development and Reform Commission, said the province would submit the report to Beijing next month.
A source said Guangdong was confident that there would be good news in three months because Beijing had already agreed to give top priority to the plan's assessment.
Ms Cheng - convenor of the bridge's advance work co-ordination group - said yesterday's meeting in Guangzhou was a big leap forward as the three governments had resolved 40 major issues. These included the bridge's impact on sea channels in the estuary and on the environment, the financing model and the framework for the bridge's future operator.
A summary of the bridge's environmental impact released earlier said the construction would have a bad effect on Chinese white dolphins that live in the estuary but measures would be introduced to reduce noise and water pollution.
Despite the recession, the three governments expect to be able to raise enough money for the bridge from the private sector.
Of 34 banks that have applied to participate in the financing, some have expressed interest in leading any consortium the financing consultant may put together. The consortium will finance 58 per cent of the 37.45 billion yuan (HK$42.6 billion) project, while the rest of the cost will be shared by the three governments according to the benefits each is deemed to receive from the bridge.
Construction workers in Hong Kong and Macau have staged protests recently pushing for progress on major infrastructure projects after more than 10,000 jobs - including 4,000 belonging to Hong Kong workers - were lost due to the suspension of the Sands group's massive resort development project in Macau.
But the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union estimated the bridge would only create about 1,000 jobs for Hong Kong workers.
The union's chairman, Choi Chun-wa, believes most of the work, especially the simplest kind, would be given to mainlanders.
