THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1983
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+PROPOSALS ARE IN TRAIN FOR INTRODUCING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD EXTEND THE CONTROL OF CONSTRUCTION NOISE TO NORMAL WORKING HOURS AS WELL AS TIGHTENING UP CONTROL IN RESPECT OF OPERATIONS OUTSIDE NORMAL WORKING HOURS, MR CHAN SAID.
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT ALL CONTRACTORS WOULD TAKE EARLY NOTE OF THE IMPLICATIONS AND WOULD NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT BEFORE TAKING ACTION TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT.
+WHILE IT IS NOT INTENDED TO IMPOSE AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE INDUSTRY THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF NOISE PRODUCED, SUCH AS THAT FROM PERCUSSIVE PILING, WILL HAVE TO BE REDUCED, HE ADDED.
MR CHAN SAID THAT THOSE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION WHO HAD NOT TAKEN POSITIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE NOISE AT CONSTRUCTION SITES SHOULD DO SO NOW.
ON SAFETY MEASURES, MR CHAN COMMENDED THE ASSOCIATION FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR, RESULTING IN A 20 PER CENT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.
THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IN THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CLAIMS ON GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.
HE RECALLED THAT PREVIOUSLY CLAIMS WERE ONLY SUBMITTED, DISPUTES PROLONGED AND ARBITRATION OR LITIGATION PROCEEDINGS CONSIDERED WHEN CONTRACTORS HAD SUFFERED LOSSES WHICH THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE ABSORB.
HOWEVER, HE FOUND THE RECENT PHENOMENON MORE DISTURBING.
+ SUSPECT MUCH OF THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN BECAUSE CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN FAILING TO RECOGNISE THE DEGREE OF RISK WHICH IS LEGITIMATELY THEIRS WHEN PRICING A TENDER.
+WHATEVER MAY BE THE REAL CAUSES, THE SITUATION DOES DEMAND ATTENTION BY THE PARTIES CONCERNED, + MR CHAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT A DIALOGUE WAS NOW IN PROGRESS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND EXECUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS, INCLUDING THE SUGGESTION AND CONSIDERATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS.
ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, MR CHAN REASSURED THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.
+THE NEW TOWNS PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE UNABATED. SIMILARLY,
WE MUST ALSO PRESS AHEAD WITH THE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS TRANSPORT PROJECTS AND WATER SUPPLY,+ HE SAID.
AMONG THE MAJOR PROJECTS ARE THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN CULTURAL COMPLEXES AND THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PROJECT FOR NORTH WEST KOWLOON.
HE SAID THAT THE ESTIMATED TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON NEW PROJECTS AND THOSE ALREADY UNDER WAY WAS ABOUT $7.6 BILLION (EXCLUDING LAND COSTS).