XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

MR BLAKE SAID CENTRAL TO THE REVIEWS OF THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS WAS A COMPARISON OF THE COST AND BENEFITS OF USING IN-HOUSE STAFF RESOURCES RATHER THAN HIRING CONSULTANTS.

"STUDIES IN THIS REGARD ARE BRING CONDUCTED BY SEVERAL DEPA STMENTS FOR A DIVERSITY OF PROJECTS AND THE WORKS BRANCH WILL SHORTLY BE SUBMITTING SUCH A COMPARISON FOR THREE DRAINAGE PROJECTS, TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE.

"WE HAVE RECENTLY INTRODUCED A NEW PROCEDURE FOR THE SELECTION OF ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, THAT REQUIRES A LUMP SUM FEE TO BE SUBMITTED, AND WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT CRITERION ALONGSIDE TECHNICAL LEADING TO THEIR ENGAGEMENT.

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NEED ΤΟ

ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, MR BLAKE SAID THE IMPORTANT CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS WAS RECOGNISED AS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

AN EXAMPLE IN THE LARGER SENSE, HE SAID, WAS THE USE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG ON A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT, OF A TUNNEL BORING MACHINE WHICH WAS DRIVING THROUGH ROCK AND LINING WITH CONCRETE A 3.8-METRE DIAMETER TUNNEL, REGULARLY COMPLETING OVER 30 METRES RACH WORKING DAY.

"THE USE OF COMPUTER AIDED DRAUGHTING IS AT THE OTHER EXTREME, ENABLING DRAWINGS TO BE PRODUCED AND COMPLEX SERVICE RUNS TO BE BETTER CO-ORDINATED, RESULTING IN A HIGHER QUALITY INSTALLATION AND A SIGNIFICATION REDUCTION IN OPERATIONAL DEFECTS.

"COMPUTER AIDED ESTIMATING AND PROGRAMMING IS ALSO BEING INTRODUCED BY THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WILL LEAD TO IMPROVEMENT IN THE COST AND TIME ASPECTS OF THEIR WORKS AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES, HE SAID,

FI

MR BLAKE ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST DECADE. HE SAID THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTED FIVE PER CENT OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND TOGETHER WITH THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR WHICH IT SERVED, THE CONTRIBUTION TO GDP WAS AS MUCH AS 14 PER CENT.

WORKERS

"THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EMPLOYS OVER 100,000 INCLUDING SOME 63,500 MANUAL WORKERS, REPRESENTING IN TOTAL 3.6 PER CENT OF THE LABOUR FORCE.

"WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW INITIATIVES ON THE AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT WORKS, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME, THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IS BEING REFOCUSSED FROM THE NEW TOWN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST DECADE.

"THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL BE CALLED UPON TO MEET GREATER. CHALLENGES, WITH EVER INCREASING NEED FOR EXACTING TIME AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

I

EXCITING TIMES ARE AHEAD: WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD ΤΟ THE

MR BLAKE SAID.

CHALLENGE,

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