Introduction

Efficient delivery of a wide range of infrastructure is essential
to sustaining Hong Kong's continued success. In 1996-97,
some $23.5 billion worth of public works projects were under
management. In the past decade, expenditure on the Public
Works Programme (PWP) has grown at an average rate of
6 per cent per annum in real terms, ensuring infrastructure
keeps pace with the demands of an increasingly sophisticated
society.

Eight of the 10 Airport Core Programme (ACP) projects have
been substantially completed. The ACP transport corridor
linking Hong Kong Island with Tung Chung new town opened
to traffic in May 1997. The corridor comprises the Western
Harbour Crossing, the West Kowloon Expressway, Route 3
(Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Sections), the Lantau Link and the
North Lantau Expressway. The other two ACP projects,
namely the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and the Airport
Railway, are expected to be completed in April and June 1998
respectively.

With the running down of the ACP projects, new projects
have been identified for injection into the PWP. These include
a significant number of projects to provide land and associated
infrastructure for housing. A review is currently being
conducted of projects which require the government to
acquire or clear land, and to ensure that important projects,
such as those related to housing, will be given high priority.

Container Terminals, 9, 10 and 11 and other key port projects
are under active planning. The first berth of Container
Terminal 9 is planned to come into operation in late-1999, with
Container Terminals 10 and 11 coming on line early next
century. The programme for the development of these key
port projects, together with typhoon shelters, mid-stream sites
and river trade terminals, is co-ordinated to ensure the timely
completion of new facilities.

Various measures have been taken to improve slope safety.
The accelerated five-year Landslip Preventive Measures
(LPM) Programme spanning 1995 to 2000 is progressing,
with some 170 substandard slopes being upgraded each year.
A new 10-year LPM Programme to upgrade another 2 500
substandard slopes will begin after the current five-year
programme is completed. A new slope catalogue, and a
register of maintenance responsibility, are being prepared and
will be available to the public in 1998 and 1999 respectively to
help ensure proper maintenance of slopes. To support this
programme, more manpower resources and funding will be
allocated for the various maintenance departments. In addition,
the guidelines on the division of maintenance responsibility
among various departments are being reviewed through the
interdepartmental Standing Committee on Slope Safety.
Existing legislation is being reviewed, and, where necessary,
new or amended legislation suggested, to enhance slope safety
associated with private developments and to effect mandatory
slope safety inspection.

In addition to implementing a vast number of public works
projects, various systems have been introduced to maintain the
quality and delivery of public works cost-effectively, safely
and in a timely manner. The works group of departments has
begun to use value management in the planning of major
projects. Using this project management technique will
improve value-for-money in public works by fully utilising
resources while maintaining the necessary functions, quality
and performance of the end product. A computerised public
works management system has also been implemented to
facilitate the execution and co-ordination of projects.

A Pay for Safety Scheme (PFSS) and an Independent Safety
Audit Scheme (ISAS) were introduced in March 1996 to
encourage contractors to set up efficient safety management
systems and to enhance the standard of safety performance of
contractors at public works construction sites. Under the
PFSS, safety related items are specified and priced in each
contract. If the contractors can satisfactorily meet the
required standard for these items, they will be paid
accordingly. By the end of 1997, 95 contracts had been
included in the PFSS. Under the ISAS, the Occupational
Safety and Health Council appoints independent Accredited
Safety Auditors to carry out quarterly safety audits on each
contract. Contractors risk suspension from tendering if they
repeatedly fail to pass these audits. Since 1996, 36 contracts
have been included in the ISAS. Mandatory safety induction
training has also been specified in public works contracts
requiring construction workers to undertake such training
when they start work on sites. Safety Advisory Units
established in each of the seven works departments continued
to provide support to staff in maintaining safety and health on
public works construction sites. The results of these safety
initiatives can be seen in the accident statistics on public
works sites, which were less than 30 per cent of the average
accident rate for the construction industry as a whole in the
12 months ending July 1997.

In addition, quality standards among the works group of
departments have been enhanced. The Architectural Services
Department, the Landslip Preventive Measures Branch of the
Civil Engineering Department, the Structures Division of the
Highways Department and three sub-divisions of the Electrical
and Mechanical Services Department have already been
certified to ISO 9000 quality standards. Other departments,
including the Drainage Services Department, Territory
Development Department and Water Supplies Department are
progressing with the implementation of their own quality
management systems. The government policy of requiring
consultants and contractors for major projects to be certified
to ISO 9000 standards was well supported by the industry.
More than 70 per cent of major consultants and more than
80 per cent of major contractors engaged in public works
projects have obtained ISO 9000 certification.