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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
Officiating at the Quality Public Housing Construction and Maintenance Awards 2007 Prize Presentation Ceremony today (December 8), Ms Ada Fung, Deputy Director of Housing (Development & Construction), said, "Sustainability is one of the guiding principles of the Hong Kong Housing Authority's (HA) building and maintenance activities. We have to give due consideration to economic, social and environmental factors while providing affordable public housing to the needy."
Ms Fung noted that by using suitable building materials, effective tender system and through close monitoring and timely control of contracts, the construction costs of public housing superstructures were found to be 40% lower than those of similar projects in the private sector, as revealed by a consultant study conducted last year.
To protect the interests of workers, the HA has established a Site Safety Sub-committee and a Working Group on Monitoring Wage Payment to Workers to formulate measures for improving working conditions for workers.
Ms Fung noted that as a result of the HA's continuous efforts in uplifting its site safety standard, the accident rate in its construction sites had decreased significantly. In 2006, 11.5 injury cases were recorded out of every 1,000 workers, which was 50% lower than the 21 cases recorded in 2005.
"Since the implementation of improvement measures to secure and monitor wage payment to workers in building contracts in 2006, the requirements have been extended to all piling and demolition contracts. Furthermore, on-demand bond requirement is now applicable to all contracts tendered out from September 2007 onward, including all nominated sub-contracts," Ms Fung said.
On maintenance of public housing, Ms Fung pointed out that the HA had implemented the Estate Improvement Programme in various estates. By modernising and improving estate facilities, the Programme helps improve tenants' living environment and reduce maintenance costs in the long term. Initiatives under the Programme include adding facilities for the visually and physically impaired and the elderly, installing additional lifts or renewing existing ones, and providing better or more energy efficient lighting.
Over 79,000 public housing flats have been inspected under the Total Maintenance Scheme (TMS) launched last year, with around 61,000 repair orders issued. A survey conducted in eight estates that had just undergone the TMS showed that over 88.5% of the respondents were either satisfied or highly satisfied with the Scheme.
At today's ceremony, Ms Fung commended the contractors, sub-contractors and frontline practitioners for their contributions to quality public housing. She presented prizes to the winners in recognition of their outstanding achievements, and to encourage them and other stakeholders in the industry to partner with the HA to sustain quality improvements.
Jointly organised by the HA and various industry associations and government bodies, this year's Awards programme marks the fifth anniversary of the scheme. The co-organising partners are: Hong Kong Construction Association, Hong Kong Federation of Electrical & Mechanical Contractors, Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association, Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Construction Site Workers General Union, Hong Kong & Kowloon Electrical Engineering & Appliances Trade Workers Union, Labour Department, Occupational Safety & Health Council, Construction Industry Training Authority and Vocational Training Council.
The awards were classified into two categories, namely New Works Projects and Maintenance Services Projects. Members of the adjudication panel comprised of representatives from the 11 co-organisers. Winners were assessed by their performance in terms of work quality, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, ethics and integrity, partnership and customer service.
Receiving the awards were 46 contractors and sub-contractors, 7 outstanding projects, 18 Best Site Safety Record projects, 6 outstanding Housing Department (HD) project teams, 7 Total Maintenance Scheme practitioners, 10 supervisors and 22 workers.
Some of the awardees' winning experiences will be posted onto the HA/HD Web Site (www.housingauthority.gov.hk). Interested industry practitioners and members of the public can find out how those awardees have contributed towards better public housing services.
Ends/Saturday, December 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:55
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