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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 2003,
the department completed the reconstruction of the public piers at Tai
Lam Chung, Hei Ling Chau and Kadoorie Piers. The department continued
with the reconstruction of the public piers at Peng Chau, Cheung Chau,
Kat O and Wu Kai Sha. It commenced the construction of a sheltered boat
anchorage at Tai O and started the planning and design of reconstruction
of the public piers at Sha Tau Kok, Wong Shek, Ko Lau Wan, Sham Chung
and Lai Chi Chong. Work began on constructing a pier and boardwalk at
Stanley.
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 specification for durable concrete, applying coating to protect the
concrete against chloride penetration, and preventing corrosion of reinforcement
bars by installing a cathodic protection system. In addition, the department
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 2003, the department maintained 117 kilometres of seawalls, 298 piers
and 18 000 hectares of seabed.
To make public piers more environmentally friendly,
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. |
