5.11
FC040/1616
Mass
Most civil engineering works are undertaken by the
public sector (including the
Transit Railway
Corporation). The preliminary estimate of expenditure on
civil engineering works in 1982 was 33% higher in real terms
(6) than the provisional estimate for 1981
The number of
persons employed on civil engineering sites was also about 25%
higher on average. In view of the strong demand from such
large civil engineering projects as the MTR Island Line,
employment and output in the civil engineering industry
probably increased in the first quarter of 1983.
5.12
Building and construction costs declined in the
first quarter. For instance, the Labour and Materials Cost
Index prepared by the Architectural Office was 1% lower in February 1983 than in February 1982. Provisional figures show
that the Tender Price Index for public building projects
prepared by the Architectural Office and the Tender Price
Index for public housing projects prepared by the Housing
Department were also lower, by 13% and 5% respectively, in the
fourth quarter of 1982 than
of 1982 than in the fourth quarter of 1981.
The difference between the changes in the various indexes was
probably due to variations in profit margins.
(6)
/Land
...
Expenditure (at constant (1973) prices) on civil
engineering
Number of persons*
employed on
Growth
civil engin-
Growth
works
rate
eering sites
rate
($Mn)
(*)
(8)
1978
2,091
10
19 890
22
1979
1,876
-10
17 540
-22
1980
1,649
-12
14 990
-15
1981
1,703**
3
13 870
1982
2,261***
33
17 320
2472
Note:
(*)
Quarterly average for each year
(**)
Provisional estimate
(***)
Preliminary estimate
34