WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1978
PROJECT CO-ORDINATION TEAM FOR N.E. KOWLOON PLANNED
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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING THE SETTING UP OF A PROJECT CO-ORDINATION TEAM FOR THE NORTH EAST KOWLOON AREA ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DURING THE RESUMED ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT FROM THE INFORMATION DRAWN FROM STUDIES CARRIED OUT BY THIS TEAM AND FROM EXPERIENCE GAINED HE HOPED TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE BASIS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF FURTHER CO-ORDINATING TEAMS TO COVER OTHER AREAS OF KOWLOON AND HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, HE INDICATED THAT CO-ORDINATION COULD BE EXPECTED
TO SHOW ITS GREATEST EFFECT ON PUBLIC SECTOR WORKS.
MR. MCDONALD WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. LI FOOK-WO.
IN HIS SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LI REFERRED TO THE HEADWAY MADE IN DEVELOPMENT. BUT HE SUGGESTED THAT MUCH MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE HAD THERE BEEN BETTER OVERALL CO-ORDINATION OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS AND HAD THERE BEEN MORE LAND AVAILABLE.
MR. MCDONALD RECALLED THAT IN 1971-72, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LET 357 CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS. IN 1977-78, 658 WERE LET, AN INCREASE OF 84.5 PER CENT.
+ IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FACTORS WHICH HAVE HAD LIMITING EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT AND ALTHOUGH THE ACTIONS OF A PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME BENEFICIAL EFFECTS I DOUBT THAT HE COULD HAVE MADE ANY MEANINGFUL IMPRESSION ON THE VOLUME OF WORKS EXECUTED, HE SAID.
MR. MCDONALD DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL TO THE SIZE OF THE CO-ORDINATING TASK.
IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HE SAID, NOT ONLY CATEGORY A ITEMS BUT CATEGORY B, D AND E ITEMS, URBAN COUNCIL BLOCK VOTE PROJECTS, PROPERTY SERVICES AGENCY PROJECTS, PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPROVISIONING OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, WORKS CARRIED OUT ON OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTAL VOTES, PUBLIC HOUSING, CLEARANCE PROGRAMMES RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT WITH THE IR ATTENDANT COMMITMENTS FOR RE-HOUSING AND GENERAL BUILDING AND ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE WORKS ALL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE CO-ORDINATOR'S AMBIT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF ALL PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME WERE ALREADY CO-ORDINATED BY P.W.D. PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAMS ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP THE NEW TOWNS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND FURTHER EXPANSION OF THIS FORM OF MANAGEMENT WOULD OCCUR. IN ADDITION, A FAIRLY LARGE TEAM CO-ORDINATED ALL ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WORKS.