CHAPTER 13
Land, Public Works and Utilities
CONTINUED investment in expanding and upgrading Hong Kong's physical infrastructure is essential to meet the community's needs arising from population expansion and economic growth. In 1998-99, the expenditure on public works projects was $22.8 billion, representing a growth of 8 per cent over 1997–98.
In the next five years, infrastructure development projects worth about $200 billion will be under way, including expansion of the highway network; railway lines; major site formation works; strategic sewage disposal scheme works; and public buildings for community use and government offices. Collectively, these projects are intended to improve the quality of life and the living environment, create additional land for new developments, stimulate economic growth, and provide more job opportunities. To assess more accurately the demand for infrastructure arising from new housing developments, a monitoring system has been put in place and the information will be updated bi-annually, taking into account the prevailing forecast on population distribution and the housing development programme.
To ensure that the public works projects are delivered on time and within budget, measures are being implemented to strengthen project management in the Works Group of departments to further improve the skills of staff involved in the management of such projects. In addition, the system monitoring the progress of the Public Works Programme will be enhanced and the procedures streamlined.
Various initiatives continued to be implemented to reduce the risk of landslides. To rectify government man-made slopes systematically, slope maintenance teams in concerned departments were strengthened and preparatory work completed for another slope upgrading exercise to be launched in 2000 under a new 10-year Landslip Preventive Measures Programme. A Community Advisory Team was set up to provide advisory services to private owners to help them discharge their responsibilities regarding private slopes. Legislative amendments are being made to enhance slope safety associated with private developments.
Efforts will continue to be made to encourage contractors in both public and private sectors to maintain a safe and healthy environment at, and adjacent to, their construction sites. Public works contractors have been encouraged to set up more efficient safety management systems through the Pay for Safety Scheme (PFSS) and the Independent Safety Audit Scheme (ISAS). The PFSS has been extended to include term contractors each with total estimated expenditure of $50 million and above. Site safety award schemes will continue to be held.
Safety training sessions are organised for construction workers to enhance their safety awareness. Safety Advisory Units of the seven Works departments continued
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