Page 64 of 194
98
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
decision,
DR. DENNY HUANG (in Cantonese): Yes, Mr. Chairman, this is our and is going to be a standard facility. In future, all newly constructed off-street refuse collection points will be provided with the carbon filtration system, and we will consider the possibility of fitting such system into the older refuse collection points with a reasonably long lifespan.
5. MR. PAO PING-WING asked the following question (in Cantonese):--In view of the financial difficulty of the Urban Council in the coming years, will the Council be prepared to review her capital works programme? If so, then what criteria and procedures will be adopted and how far public consultation including local District Board will be involved in this process?
MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):- This question concerns the capital works programme and is in two parts. The first part enquires whether, in view of the financial difficulties in the years ahead Council will review its capital works programme. The second part asks what criteria and procedures will be adopted and how far public consultation, including local District Board, will be involved in this process.
In answer to the first part of the question, I should explain that the U.C.'s capital works programme covers a five-year period. A major review is conducted annually, with quarterly reports to Members concerning any changes to individual projects. In June and July, a complete reappraisal of all the projects in the current five-year programme was carried out to update the estimates, target construction dates and the phasing of expenditure. The opportunity was also taken to identify new projects which are expected to incur expenditure during the five-year period 1983–84 to 1987–88. Every works item must be individually approved by the U.C. initially at select committee level, and funds can only be committed when provision has been made in the annual estimates for such items.
The criteria adopted in the annual review of the U.C.'s capital works programme are the particular urgency of each project, the availability of land for its implementation, the capacity of the Architectural Office to undertake the work and the financial resources of the Urban Council.
Earlier this month the U.C. agreed in principle to a forecast capital expenditure during the five years from 1983-84 to 1987-88 to be of the order of $1,621 million, after taking into account realistic levels of revenue and expenditure. A capital works programme is being prepared on the basis of this financial forecast for approval by the respective functional select committees and the Whole Council eventually.
Our experience in the past is that some projects will not be able to proceed as originally planned, while others may be delayed because of factors beyond our control, resulting in quite substantial under-spending in capital expenditure. It is of course possible to inject new commitments to make up such under-spending but since the planning and design of projects require varying lead times, the extent to which such new commitments can be made in the time required is limited. I would therefore strongly urge that this Council adopts a flexible approach to ensure that urgent projects can be proceeded quickly, particularly where the opportunity to do so is dependent on the Government's ability to clear sites and in some cases to rehouse its occupants.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
99
Page 64 of 194
spending but since the planning and design of projects require varying lead times, the extent to which such new commitments can be made in the time required is limited. I would therefore strongly urge that this Council adopts a flexible approach to ensure that urgent projects can be proceeded quickly, particularly where the opportunity to do so is dependent on the Government's ability to clear sites and in some cases to rehouse its occupants.
A provision of $290 million for capital expenditure has been included for the next financial year to meet expenditure arising from projects for which contracts have been let and advanced projects on which tenders are being invited soon. This represents an increase of $120 million over the revised estimate in 1983-84 of $170 million for capital expenditure. In addition, a sum of $35 million is included for minor projects for next year. This sum is the same as that provided in the revised estimate for the year 1983–84.
In answer to the second part of the question on public consultation, the U.C. consult the District Board on developments in each district and it is the existing practice to seek the views of the District Boards on each major project and in the case of markets--the relevant trade associations, in case of sports facilities, the relevant national sports bodies. Comments concerning particular projects, including the urgency of a project, would of course be taken into account in deciding on the priority that should be given to it. These comments are discussed and are reflected in their advice to the Capital Works Select Committee. The decision to proceed with particular items and to commit funds must remain the responsibility of this Council, taking into account all relevant factors, including of course the comments of District Boards.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to raise two queries. First of all, Mr. FUNG mentioned that this Council will adopt a flexible approach so that urgent projects can be proceeded with as soon as possible. Can I ask Mr. FUNG to further elaborate on what he means by a flexible approach, and how can we speed up urgent projects? The second query is that there are some projects which have been delayed. What procedures should we take concerning these projects to provide the service to the district?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, by a flexible approach, we mean that if there is room to add more projects to a capital works programme, we will try our best to do so provided that money and other factors are favourable. In fact, the staffing of the whole planning section of the Urban Council is designed to cut out most of the red tape in pushing our projects. So that's how we try to expedite our projects.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That is the answer to the first supplementary. Is there another supplementary, Mr. Pao?
Page 64 of 194
Page 64 of 194
98
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
decision,
DR. DENNY HUANG (in Cantonese): Yes, Mr. Chairman, this is our and is going to be a standard facility. In future, all newly constructed off-street refuse collection points will be provided with the carbon filtration system, and we will consider the possibility of fitting such system into the older refuse collection points with a reasonably long lifespan.
5. MR. PAO PING-WING asked the following question (in Cantonese):--In view of the financial difficulty of the Urban Council in the coming years, will the Council be prepared to review her capital works programme? If so, then what criteria and procedures will be adopted and how far public consultation including local District Board will be involved in this process?
MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):- This question concerns the capital works programme and is in two parts. The first part enquires whether, in view of the financial difficulties in the years ahead Council will review its capital works programme. The second part asks what criteria and procedures will be adopted and how far public consultation, including local District Board, will be involved in this process.
In answer to the first part of the question, I should explain that the U.C.'s capital works programme covers a five-year period. A major review is con- ducted annually, with quarterly reports to Members concerning any changes to individual projects. In June and July, a complete reappraisal of all the projects in the current five-year programme was carried out to update the estimates, target construction dates and the phasing of expenditure. The opportunity was also taken to identify new projects which are expected to incur expenditure during the five-year period 1983–84 to 1987–88. Every works item must be individually approved by the U.C. initially at select committee level, and funds can only be committed when provision has been made in the annual estimates for such items.
The criteria adopted in the annual review of the U.C.'s capital works programme are the particular urgency of each project, the availability of land for its implementation, the capacity of the Architectural Office to undertake the work and the financial resources of the Urban Council.
Earlier this month the U.C. agreed in principle to a forecast capital expenditure during the five years from 1983-84 to 1987-88 to be of the order of $1,621 million, after taking into account realistic levels of revenue and expenditure. A capital works programme is being prepared on the basis of this financial forecast for approval by the respective functional select committees and the Whole Council eventually.
Our experience in the past is that some projects will not be able to proceed as originally planned, while others may be delayed because of factors beyond our control, resulting in quite substantial under-spending in capital expenditure. It is of course possible to inject new commitments to make up such under-
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 64 of 194
99
spending but since the planning and design of projects require varying lead times, the extent to which such new commitments can be made in the time required is limited. I would therefore strongly urge that this Council adopts a flexible approach to ensure that urgent projects can be proceeded quickly, particularly where the opportunity to do so is dependent on the Government's ability to clear sites and in some cases to rehouse its occupants.
A provision of $290 million for capital expenditure has been included for the next financial year to meet expenditure arising from projects for which contracts have been let and advanced projects on which tenders are being invited soon. This represents an increase of $120 million over the revised estimate in 1983-84 of $170 million for capital expenditure. In addition, a sum of $35 million is included for minor projects for next year. This sum is the same as that provided in the revised estimate for the year 1983–84.
In answer to the second part of the question on public consultation, the U.C. consult the District Board on developments in each district and it is the existing practice to seek the views of the District Boards on each major project and in the case of markets--the relevant trade associations, in case of sports facilities, the relevant national sports bodies. Comments concerning particular projects, including the urgency of a project, would of course be taken into account in deciding on the priority that should be given to it. These comments are discussed and are reflected in their advice to the Capital Works Select Committee. The decision to proceed with particular items and to commit funds must remain the responsibility of this Council, taking into account all relevant factors, including of course the comments of District Boards.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to raise two queries. First of all, Mr. FUNG mentioned that this Council will adopt a flexible approach so that urgent projects can be proceeded with as soon as possible. Can I ask Mr. FUNG to further elaborate on what he means by a flexible approach, and how can we speed up urgent projects? The second query is that there are some projects which have been delayed. What procedures should we take concerning these projects to provide the service to the district?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, by a flexible approach, we mean that if there is room to add more projects to a capital works programme, we will try our best to do so provided that money and other factors are favourable. In fact, the staffing of the whole planning section of the Urban Council is designed to cut out most of the red tape in pushing our projects. So that's how we try to expedite our projects.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That is the answer to the first supplementary. Is there another supplementary, Mr. Pao?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.