The Civil Engineering Department is responsible for the planning, design and construction of public marine facilities including piers, beacons, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas. In 2002, the department completed the reconstruction of the public piers at Tung Lung Chau and Pak Sha Wan, and the design of a sheltered boat anchorage at Tai O. The department continued with the reconstruction of the Tai Lam Chung, Hei Ling Chau and Kadoorie Piers and started the reconstruction of Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Kat O and Wu Kai Sha Public Piers.

    The department is also responsible for the maintenance of public marine facilities. It operates a maintenance strategy that is aimed at extending the life of reinforced concrete piers by incorporating a new specification for durable concrete, the use of concrete coating as a barrier against chloride and preventing corrosion of reinforcement bars by installing a new protection system.

    In addition, the department also carries out routine inspections and repairs of other public marine structures including seawalls, breakwaters and beacons. It provides maintenance dredging services in anchorage areas, typhoon shelters, rivers and navigation channels. In 2002, the department maintained 117 kilometres of seawalls, 298 piers and 18 000 hectares of seabed.

    For environmental friendliness at public piers, the department has advocated the use of rubber or recycled plastic as alternative materials for the fender system, to replace the traditional hardwood timber fenders. Replacement work has begun at some public piers.