HOUSING
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Construction
Over 53 000 flats were produced by the Housing Authority in 1990, close to the record set in 1989.
Though the labour shortage continued to be a problem affecting the local construction industry, the authority is confident that its target production of 159 000 flats set for the remaining years of the first development period of the Long Term Housing Strategy will be achieved by early 1991. Overall, the authority is committed to producing another 400 000 flats in the second and third five-year development period ending in the year 2001. Plans are being drawn up to extend this to 2011, so that demands for public housing which are bound to arise will be met in the years ahead.
Good progress was made in various measures introduced to improve quality in con- struction work:
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The authority's own lists of building contractors were promulgated in April 1990, with 18 firms enlisted for large and medium-size contracts and 35 firms for smaller contracts. All firms on the lists are given a three-year period to achieve total quality management (ISO 9000) accreditation by March 1993.
Meanwhile, a Performance Assessment Scoring System (PASS) is being developed, enabling the authority to judge individual contractor's performance more systemat- ically. The system will also be used for the selection of contractors to tender for building and maintenance works, and will thus give them incentive to improve the quality of their performance.
Provisions have been included in the authority's standard building contract conditions making it mandatory for contractors to allow workmen their days off on Sundays and public holidays. These provisions, coupled with other incentives being encouraged by the authority to improve site safety, hygiene and working conditions, should have a long-term effect of attracting more workers to the local construction industry.
The initial selection of firms capable of supplying the major components for the standard Harmony blocks has been completed. These components will be manufac- tured off-site under strict quality control. The shortlisted firms will also be required to obtain ISO 9000 accreditation within a given time scale. Technical studies for the use of precast facade panels are being actively pursued with a view to further reducing the reliance on on-site labour and improving the quality of external finishes and window installation. The authority is keen to introduce the use of this precasting method on an incremental basis with effect from early 1991.
Consultants have been engaged to assist the authority in its ongoing quality drive. Apart from those actively engaged in assessing the firms for the building components, others will be advising contractors on measures to be taken to achieve ISO 9000 accreditation. A separate consultancy will also be arranged to assist the authority's Construction Branch in obtaining ISO 9000 accreditation before March 1993.
Urban Housing
On Hong Kong Island, Stage I site formation at Shau Kei Wan East has been completed while Stage II is progressing. The Shau Kei Wan West site formation will be completed in 1992. Building works at both these sites, when completed, will provide 7 168 rental and 3 648 rental/HOS flats. In Chai Wan, finishing work is progressing in Fung Wah Estate, with an output of 608 HOS and 1 218 rental flats upon completion early in 1991. Wah