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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
To ensure the quality of public housing construction and maintenance, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has adopted a number of measures to boost site safety and to protect workers﷿ rights. These included contract requirements for Hard-paved Construction to be widely adopted, measures to ensure timely wage payments, and impositioning on-demand bond.
Officiating at the Quality Public Housing Construction and Maintenance Awards 2006 prize presentation ceremony today (December 9), Mr. Thomas Chan Chun-yuen, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing), said, "A safe working environment for workers is conducive to achieving better construction quality. Timely wage payments to workers will boost morale of the workforce. Thus, the HA has kept up its partnership with the industry to implement measures that would contribute to site safety and worker protection."
Mr Chan said that to enhance site safety, new techniques and practices are constantly researched and put in place. Since last year, the HA has stipulated in all its construction, piling, demolition and civil contracts that Hard-paved Construction should be widely adopted so as to keep material storage area and passageways in better order, facilitate dust control and site drainage, and improve site environment.
Mr Chan is proud of the fact that the HA turns in a remarkable report card on site safety over the years. He said, 䩕There has been a noticeable drop in the overall accident rate on our sites. In 2001, there were 55.8 cases per 1 000 workers. In 2005, the number fell to 21. A record low of 2.1 cases per 1 000 workers was registered in the Kwai Chung Estate Phase 5 project. These were commendable improvements.蒅
In regard to worker protection, Mr Chan said, "Since May this year the HA has introduced relevant clauses in its building contracts to secure and monitor wage payments to workers. Furthermore, on-demand bond requirement is now applicable to all contracts tendered out from September onwards, including all nominated sub-contracts. This empowers the HA to effect payment of outstanding wages to workers even in the event of contractor﷿s liquidation. To monitor the implementation of these measures, a working group with wide representation from both workers and employers has been set up."
As for public housing maintenance, the HA launched earlier this year the Total Maintenance Scheme (TMS), which undertakes to complete inspection in all public housing flats in five years﷿ time. Its three-pronged approach encompasses proactive problem identification, prompt response as well as education and promotion. So far, the Scheme has been fully implemented in 14 estates.
An independent survey conducted in four estates that have recently implemented the TMS confirmed its success. Over 80% of the respondents said they were satisfied with the Scheme. Mr. Chan said the results were encouraging, and vowed to continue the partnership with the industry in further advancing maintenance quality of public housing.
The Quality Public Housing Construction and Maintenance Awards 2006 marks the fourth year of the scheme in recognition of the outstanding achievements of the HA's business partners comprising both corporations and individuals, covering various aspects of performance. Assessment criteria included their performance in terms of work quality, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, ethics and integrity, partnership and customer service.
Receiving the awards were 42 contractors, five Outstanding Building Projects, six Total Maintenance Scheme Projects, 15 Best Site Safety Record Projects, seven Outstanding Housing Department Project Teams, ten supervisors and 20 workers.
The co-organizing 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, Construction Industry Training Authority and Vocational Training Council.
Some of the awardees' winning experiences will be posted on the HA/HD Web Site (www.housingauthority.gov.hk) soon. Interested industry participants and members of the public may log on to find out how they have contributed towards better public housing services.
Ends/Saturday, December 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:33
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