Public Works Department is responsible for the production of accommodation for some 558,000 people and the balance of the housing target will be dealt with by the new Housing Department.
Private Building Development
3.06 The principal function of the Buildings Ordinance is to consider all plans for private development submitted for approval. Staff requirements to deal with these plans are governed essentially by development trends and forward planning for the General Division is therefore limited to anticipation based on these trends.
3.07 The comprehensive inspection of works-in-progress carried out by professional staff in the past proves such inspection is necessary to ensure that buildings under construction comply with the Buildings Ordinance. With the likelihood of more recruits at professional level in the coming year, it is possible that inspection of every project under construction can be made in the future.
3.08 At present Engineers in the small Civil Engineering Unit in the Buildings Ordinance Office are all seconded from other offices of the Department. Proposals have been made for setting up a Civil Engineering Division in the Office with adequate staff to carry out all the functions relating to civil engineering aspects.
3.09 In the field of dangerous buildings progress on planned inspections has been slow. This is mainly due to staff shortages and the effect of the rainstorms in mid-June. The burden on the Dangerous Buildings Division and the Works Division is further increased by the recent growing number of defective drainage complaints, received from the public, which require action of the two Divisions. It is expected that the staff situation may be improved soon and the two Divisions will then be able to carry out all the duties effectively.
ENGINEERING
Highways
3.10 Roads and drainage works are constructed to an overall plan which is developed in three stages:
(a) assessment of the present demand and growth rate,
(b) forward projections to a design year or to the ultimate, and
(c) formulation of proposals.
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