1.21 The general effect of these deficiencies has been to delay Government projects, despite the employment of private architects, quantity surveyors and consulting engineers, and there seems little likelihood of any rapid improvement in the situation.
1.22 Those sub-departments engaged purely on statutory duties cannot, however, employ the services of private professional firms. Staff vacancies in these circumstances inevitably result in a review of priorities and the concentration of staff on the most pressing work—often to the detriment of important but less urgent duties. This has occurred particularly in the Buildings Ordinance Office, where action in respect of illegal structures or alterations to private buildings has had to be limited to those cases which create dangerous conditions, and where a serious back-log of building plans awaiting approval has built up. In the Crown Lands and Survey Office, Lease Enforcement action continued to be virtually suspended as a result of the preparation for the mass of lease renewals which will fall due in 1973.
1.23 In the case of the Technical Audit Unit, it has been completely impossible for the unit to function according to its terms of reference, as at no time during the year has there been less than 2 vacancies out of an approved strength of 5, and at one time, due to leave and sickness, the Chief Technical Examiner operated alone.
STAFF
1.24 The total staff now numbers more than 11,700, of whom 766 are professional or assistant professional officers. Occupants of Super-scale posts, distribution of staff and rates of pay of artisans, labourers and apprentices are given in Appendices, A, B and C respectively.
1.25 During the year the following senior officers left Hong Kong on leave prior to retirement:
Mr. CHEN Shan-chuang, Chief Building Surveyor, on 21.9.71.
Mr. G. J. SKELT, J.P., Director of Engineering Development, on 22.11.71. Mr. W. E. LEVIE, Principal Government Architect, on 29.2.72.
TRAINING
1.26 Training facilities continued to be provided for technical and assistant professional staff. Altogether 35 apprentices, 146 Craft Apprentices and 70 Technical Apprentices, who had signed agreements to follow
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1.21 The general effect of these deficiencies has been to delay Government projects, despite the employment of private architects, quantity surveyors and consulting engineers, and there seems little likeli- hood of any rapid improvement in the situation.
1.22 Those sub-departments engaged purely on statutory duties can- not, however, employ the services of private professional firms. Staff vacancies in these circumstances inevitably result in a review of prior- ities and the concentration of staff on the most pressing work-often to the detriment of important but less urgent duties. This has occurred particularly in the Buildings Ordinance Office, where action in respect of illegal structures or alterations to private buildings has had to be limited to these cases which create dangerous conditions, and where a serious back-log of building plans awaiting approval has built up. In the Crown Lands and Survey Office, Lease Enforcement action con- tinued to be virtually suspended as a result of the preparation for the mass of lease renewals which will fall due in 1973.
1.23 In the case of the Technical Audit Unit, it has been completely impossible for the unit to function according to its terms of reference, as at no time during the year has there been less than 2 vacancies out of an approved strength of 5, and at one time, due to leave and sickness, the Chief Technical Examiner operated alone.
STAFF
1.24 The total staff now numbers more than 11,700, of whom 766 are professional or assistant professional officers. Occupants of Super- scale posts, distribution of staff and rates of pay of artisans, labourers and apprentices are given in Appendices, A, B and C respectively.
1.25 During the year the following senior officers left Hong Kong on leave prior to retirement:
Mr. CHEN Shan-chuang, Chief Building Surveyor, on 21.9.71.
Mr. G. J. SKELT, J.P., Director of Engineering Development, on 22.11.71. Mr. W. E. LEVIE, Principal Government Architect, on 29.2.72.
TRAINING
1.26 Training facilities continued to be provided for technical and assistant professional staff. Altogether 35 apprentices, 146 Craft Appren- tices and 70 Technical Apprentices, who had signed agreements to follow
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