LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
A good quality management system is a necessity for all successful organisations. The internationally recognised ISO 9000 quality management standard can help organisations, including Works Departments, consultants and contractors, establish their own quality management systems for contributing to the successful implementation of the PWP. The seven Works Departments have altogether obtained 40 ISO 9000 certificates, showing their continual commitments to providing quality services. The consultants and contractors fully understand the benefits of establishing their own quality management systems and those undertaking major and medium- sized public works projects are now all ISO 9000 certified.
In January, the Construction Industry Review Committee (CIRC) submitted a report to the Chief Executive entitled 'Construct for Excellence' with 109 recommendations, covering a wide range of subjects such as quality culture, construction procurement, manpower development, innovativeness, productivity, site safety, environmental performance and institutional framework for change. Emphasis has been placed on nurturing a major culture change so as to achieve an integrated construction industry capable of continuous improvement towards excellence in a market-driven environment.
As part of the new institutional framework, the Works Bureau has been appointed as the lead agency within the Government to co-ordinate construction-related matters and to oversee the implementation of the CIRC recommendations. The Government has also agreed in principle to establish a statutory co-ordinating body for the construction industry. Pending formation of this statutory body, the Provisional Construction Industry Co-ordination Board was set up in September with members drawn from clients, professionals, academics, consultants, contractors, workers, independent persons, as well as government bureaux and departments. The provisional board seeks to deliberate and forge consensus among different sectors of the industry, exchange views with the Government on strategic issues affecting the industry, take forward those CIRC recommendations that require collective action by the industry, and to advise on issues relating to future development of the industry co-ordinating body.
As part of the Government's comprehensive Slope Safety Strategy, a new 10-year Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme, with a budget of about $9 billion, was launched in April 2000 to systematically upgrade substandard government slopes and carry out safety screening of private slopes. In addition, about $600 million will be spent each year to maintain government slopes. Regarding private slopes, a revised loan scheme on building safety improvement was set up in July to provide assistance to private owners who need some financial assistance to maintain their slopes. To further improve the outlook of slopes, hence the quality of the living environment, landscaping will be included in every slope upgraded under the LPM Programme, and improvements will be effected on existing government slopes as part of maintenance work.
Organisational Framework
The primary objectives of the Government's lands and works policies are to ensure that there is an adequate supply of land to meet both the short-term and long-term needs of the public and private sectors, to optimise the use of land within the framework of land use zoning and development strategies, and to co-ordinate development in infrastructure and buildings.
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