ENG-1990 — Page 268

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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programme which started in October 1989. Within the eight-month period, 55 000 buildings were inspected externally. While most were found to be in satisfactory condition, 16 700 showed signs of deterioration to the extent that they will require a full internal survey within five years. The condition of another 207 buildings was serious enough to require immediate action and several were beyond repair and had to be closed and demolished immediately.

Strenuous efforts to deal with the problem of unauthorised building works continued. With due regard to the views of District Boards, action was being taken in buildings en bloc and sometimes on an area or district basis, rather than simply against individual unauthorised structures. This approach also ensures that the problem of on-going building maintenance is addressed.

Amendments were made to the Buildings Ordinance during the year to improve the geotechnical control of building works in the north-western New Territories, which have recently been found to be underlain by marble caverns.

Furthermore, in order to cope with the latest developments in the building industry, the Building (Construction) Regulations have been completely overhauled, and a number of associated Codes of Practice have been issued, to cater for the most up-to-date design and technological standards.

Building Development - Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department undertakes government building projects as well as those of the Urban and Regional Councils and the British Forces.

During 1989-90, the department completed 69 building contracts under various pro- grammes. There were over 140 ongoing building contracts in the year and the total capital expenditure including minor works, was $2,703 million. In addition to this the Property Services Branch (formerly called the Maintenance Branch) of the department spent $850 million in providing routine maintenance and minor alteration works to over 6000 government, Urban and Regional Councils' and British Forces' buildings. The branch was also involved in providing emergency accommodation to cater for the influx of Vietnamese boat people at a cost of $330 million. The overall expenditure of $3,883 million shows an increase of 23 per cent over the 1988-9 expenditure of $3,158 million.

Tendering on all types of projects continued to be very active and competitive. During the 12-month period to March 1990, tender prices increased by about six per cent while over the same period labour and basic material costs rose by 17 per cent and three per cent respectively. The rise in tender prices was moderate when compared with the combined effect of increases in labour and material costs, probably due to the competitiveness of the market. The increase in labour cost was not so severe as that in the preceding year (26 per cent). The labour shortage problem appeared to have slightly eased.

Provision of parks and recreational areas plays an important part in the construc- tion programme for the Urban Council. The completion of the recreational development at Aberdeen waterfront and the Hoi Bun Road Park in May and July 1990 respectively has increased the leisure facilities in Aberdeen and Kwun Tong districts. A major Urban Council project which was completed last year is the Museum of Science and Technology at Tsim Sha Tsui. The new museum provides exhibition areas, a piazza, lecture hall, classroom and laboratory. The Kowloon Public Pier and the piazza adjacent to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre were also completed and opened to the public. On the same site, the