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HOUSING
Regular inspection and maintenance of all slopes and retaining walls continued to be carried out, with assistance from three geotechnical engineering consultants.
Meanwhile, work also continued on the upgrading of electrical installations. Over the past three years, 322 residential blocks have had electrical reinforcement or rewiring work carried out, and work is being undertaken on another 151 blocks, with completion scheduled for March 1995.
The modernisation of lifts is an important aspect of the maintenance work, and 125 lifts which were over 20 years' old have been replaced in the past five years under this programme to ensure safe and adequate service.
Under yet another maintenance programme, some 1 600 vacant flats are being regularly refurbished each month.
In addition, commercial centres in estates are constantly upgraded to ensure that the facilities meet current-day standards. Under a major renovation programme, 22 shopping centres were being substantially upgraded.
Encouraged by the authority, a large number of building contractors on the authority's list of contractors have obtained ISO 9000 quality accreditation, assisting the authority to meet its maintenance objectives.
Work is also under way to further improve security in housing estates in a number of ways.
These include the installation of security gates at all estate entrances as well as closed circuit television surveillance within lifts, to be monitored at a central control room and seen on tenants' television sets.
Redevelopment
Since 1988, 260 housing blocks in the older estates have been redeveloped to bring them to current standards.
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This work is being carried out under a comprehensive programme as an integral part of the Long Term Housing Strategy.
Some 81 400 families have benefited.
In the next five-year rolling redevelopment programme beginning in 1994, some 53 000 more families will be rehoused. Affected tenants are formally notified 18 to 24 months before clearance work begins.
Construction
Over the years, the authority has promoted quality construction through the wider use of industrial processes that allow easier and more effective quality control.
Currently, key building components including factory-produced doorsets, metal gates and kitchen sink units are provided by its own approved suppliers who have obtained quality certification, in this way enhancing quality operations and providing cleaner and safer site conditions.
Further studies are being conducted to develop the concept of building standardisation to encompass the use of more factory-made components.
Through the concerted efforts of other government departments and the building industry, it has been possible to shorten the lead time for the production of public housing by 11 months, to 61 months, without affecting quality or safety.