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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Members of the Housing Authority's (HA) Building Committee and Tender Committee obtained a thorough understanding of the Performance Assessment Scoring System (PASS) during a visit to two construction sites on Hong Kong Island today (October 21).
To monitor its contractors in an effective way, the HA introduced the PASS in 1990 which was initially targeted at building contractors and maintenance contractors. The system has been refined over the years and subsequently extended to building services sub-contractors in 2002, and currently to piling contractors in 2005.
The PASS provides a comprehensive data of contractors' track record, enabling the HA to assess tenders in a balanced approach based on the combined score which comprises price score, corporate score and performance score.
Members were told that with its application in work monitoring, the PASS provided an objective and measurable system for performance assessment; defined specifications and standards encouraging contractors to make improvement; monitored the construction process to ensure proper work procedure, compliance with occupational safety and health requirements, environmental protection and work quality; as well as providing training for sub-contractors and workers.
On arrival at the Aldrich Bay Phase 5 site, Members saw a demonstration of the application of the assessment process on site. Site monitoring staff first input the works progress of the day into the computer system of PASS to enable the assessor to obtain a group of random assessment locations generated by the computer.
The assessor then conducted the assessment for various items in the presence of the contractor's representative. Following the completion of the assessment, both the assessor and the contractor's representative signed the score sheet for confirmation. The assessor input the data of the score sheet into the computer system to complete the whole process.
The Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction), Ms Ada Fung, explained to Members that a comprehensive range of items covering both structural and building elements would be assessed under the PASS.
"Structural elements include reinforcement bars, formwork, finished concrete and construction quality; and building elements include floor, internal and external wall finishes, ceiling, windows, plumbing and drainage, precast components, waterproofing, shop front and cladding," she said.
"To set up a set of objective and fair assessment standard, the assessors including project team members and independent assessment teams, will assess the performance of contractors in terms of output, progress and input of works," Ms Fung added.
Members were also informed that a public rental housing block comprising 716 flats and a market complex would be built on the Aldrich Bay Phase 5 site, scheduled for completion in March 2008 and September 2007 respectively. The building project is in good progress. The domestic building has been completed to the 26th floor and the concrete structure of the market complex will be topping out soon.
The party then proceeded to the piling site at the Ex Chai Wan Estate where the piling PASS was introduced by monitoring staff on workmanship assessment through continuous assessment bell-out diameter check, reinforcement check and concrete core test.
"This site has implemented a series of quality reform measures that have been launched since 2000 to strengthen site inspection and acceptance requirements of piling works. These include deploying resident engineer to strengthen site supervision, carrying out tests on all bored piles and conducting final pile acceptance tests by Housing Department’s own testing contractors," Ms Fung said.
"Since full implementation of reform measures for piling works, noticeable improvements are observed in assuring built quality, time of completion, control of variations and contract budgets, fostering partnering culture and control on sub-contracting," she added.
Members joining today's visit include the Chairman of the Building Committee, Mr Ip Kwok-him, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Stephen Yip Moon-wah, Mr Andrew Chan Ping-chiu, Ms Rebecca Chiu Lai-har, Mr Joseph Kwan Kwok-lok, and Mr Joseph Fan Wai-kuen. Commercial Properties Committee member, Mr Andy Lam Siu-wing, also joined the party.
Ends/Saturday, October 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:17
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