11
Date:
Time:
28.11.86
8.30 12.30
Reporter: PMO
-
1
Committee ?
175
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
:
22
223
24
CHAIRMAN:
Yes.
MR CHEUNG: I don't want to refer to the whole report, which goes through the study he made of this project when he was in London working on the drawings and the specifications but also in Part 2 he deals with what he saw on the ground and with interviews he had with people on the job. The last page of his report, page 23, he summarises his findings. You all have a copy, sir, of this report. May I just refer to it because it is important. He said (Reads)
"Having now spent several weeks studying the job, talking to the people concerned and examining documents and drawings, I may now summarise my findings as follows:
1. This is probably the most complex structure ever attempted in Hong Kong and I cannot recall seeing a more difficult one in any part of the world. I very much doubt if any other local or even international contractor could have achieved better results than Technic and their principal sub-contractor. 2. Although technically an extremely good design which faithfully reproduces the requirements of the architect, it is totally impractical. No attempt whatsoever seems to have been made to ease the problems of construction, or has the engineer warned the tenderers of the problems of construction. 3. My study was undertaken for the purpose of finding an explanation for the serious delays which have occurred bearing in mind that the contractor and sub-contractor have considerable experience. In my opinion, the reasons are:
a.
The structural engineer failed to warn the contractor of the problem of construction at the time of tender."
25 Well, that is inherent in the system. Where you don't have a Category
26
{
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
AB and you can't make detailed study and detailed investigation before the contract is let. (Reads)
"b.
The design has not been prepared with a view to rapid and continuous construction."
That means disruption in the course of the contracts. (Reads)
"c. The contractor was entitled to but did not receive, a comprehensive set of detailed drawings at the start of construction.
If he had done that, he could have planned the construction in such a way with the minimum of disruption. Problems inevitably occur but here no attempt was made to deal with such problems before they arose, and (Reads)
"d. The engineer failed to anticipate problems but dealt with them as they occurred, thus causing frequent delays.'"
Page 240Page 241