Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation 221
Building Development
Private Sector
Quality buildings are necessary features of a prosperous and modern metropolis. The Buildings Department facilitates and promotes the construction and maintenance of quality buildings and strives to make the resulting environment safe and healthy. for the community as a whole.
During the year, work on superstructures started at 149 building sites, involving a total gross floor area of 1.85 million square metres. A total of 356 buildings, with a combined gross floor area of 1.71 million square metres, were completed at a total cost of $21.8 billion compared with 811 buildings, with a gross floor area of 2.5 million square metres, built at a total cost of $25.6 billion, in 2006.
Major new construction works in progress as at the end of 2007 included phase I of the redevelopment of Ocean Park and phase 2 of the Hong Kong Science Park.
Public Sector
The Government develops and maintains all government buildings and public facilities, other than public housing, through the Architectural Services Department. In 2007, 66 projects were completed including the headquarters building of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in North Point, the Rehabilitation Building at Tuen Mun Hospital, the boundary-crossing facilities at Hong Kong- Shenzhen Western Corridor.
The Government has worked to improve the design and maintenance of public buildings and promote higher standards in construction. During the year, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects presented its highest award of the year to the Stanley Municipal Services Building. The Hong Kong Wetland Park also won the international award of Urban Land Institute 2007 Global Award for Excellence. Moreover, the study on 'Application of Green Roof in Hong Kong' was completed in early 2007 to promote public awareness of green roof concepts. Landscaping, vertical greening and roof greening provisions were included in public building projects as far as practicable in order to enhance the visual and environmental quality of the public facilities.
In 2007, 78 projects commenced on site, including major ones such as the redevelopment of Lo Wu Correctional Institution, Customs Headquarters Building in North Point, extension block to Prince of Wales Hospital, Tin Shui Wai Public Library and indoor recreation centre. Major upcoming projects including the Tamar Development Project, District Open Space at Po Kong Village Road, wholesale fish market in Tuen Mun, and other similar projects will soon commence.
Building Safety and Maintenance
Encouraging building owners to maintain their buildings properly, to conduct timely repair and to ensure building safety continued to be the Development Bureau's key areas of work in the year. The year 2007 saw the laying of foundation for taking forward two major proposals to tackle the problem of building neglect for the long-