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Consultancy on supervision plan commissioned
The Buildings Department today (Friday) commissioned a consultancy firm to look into the supervision of building works in Hong Kong and to prepare a Technical Memorandum and a Code of Practice for a supervision plan system.
The Director of Buildings, Dr Choi Yu-leuk, signed a $4.8 million contract with C M Wong & Associates Limited this afternoon. The consultant will complete the major part of the assignment in nine months.
Speaking after signing the contract, Dr Choi said the Government recognised that the safety of building works depended very much on the adequacy of supervision provided throughout the construction period.
"The supervision plan system, introduced under the Buildings (Amendments) Ordinance 1996, was a milestone achieved to upgrade the safety level on building sites.
"The Building Authority is empowered to refuse an application for consent to commence building works if a supervision plan has not been lodged. Deviation from the plan may lead to disciplinary action on the parties involved."
Dr Choi explained that a supervision plan would include a comprehensive management system on site safety specifying how the works were to be supervised and the supervisory responsibility of the building professionals and all other personnel engaged in the building works.
"The Technical Memorandum which will be subject to legislative procedures will lay down the system and framework for the supervision requirements.
"It will also specify the required experience and qualifications of all the persons responsible for site supervision, and the form and content of the supervision plan.
"The Code of Practice, on the other hand, will provide guidelines for building professionals on ways to meet the standards and requirements specified in the memorandum. It will also advise on the operation of the supervision plan system," he added.
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