ENG-1991 — Page 258

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Urban Council, Regional Council and British Forces buildings. This branch was also involved in providing emergency accommodation to cater for the influx of Vietnamese illegal immigrants at a cost of $295 million. The department's overall expenditure of $7,879 million shows an increase of 21.8 per cent over the 1989–90 expenditure of $6,469 million.

Tendering on all types of projects continued to be very active and competitive. During the 12-month period to March 1991, tender prices increased by about six per cent. Over the same period labour and basic material costs rose by 13 per cent and one per cent respectively.

The provision of parks and recreational areas plays an important part in the construction programme for Urban Council. The completion of Hollywood Road Park and Morrison Hill Road Garden has augmented leisure facilities. Other parks commenced last year include Shek Kip Mei Park Phase III, Quarry Bay Park and Wan Chai Park. The Hong Kong Museum of Art, which has six exhibition galleries, was completed and opened in November 1991 and re-cladding of the Hong Kong Space Museum was completed by the end of 1991.

Sports facilities continued to be expanded throughout the territory. The Mong Kok Stadium was redesigned and the old facilities are being renovated to make the venue suitable for both soccer and rugby matches at international standards. The improvement of the illumination level and quality of lighting to a standard suitable for direct television broadcasting, installation of a large digital electronic scoreboard and an automatic _irrigation system for the pitch areas will be completed in 1992.

The two major Urban Council projects completed last year were the Java Road Complex and USD Training School and District Library in Lai Chi Kok. The former building includes a market, a cooked food centre and an indoor games hall. The latter is a 13-storey building which provides classrooms, laboratories, lecture theatre/assembly hall and other facilities for the Urban Council's training of operational staff. A district library is also included in the building.

The new Regional Council Chamber and Regional Services Department headquarters in Sha Tin were completed in July 1991. Construction works have commenced on a sports- ground, indoor recreation centre and swimming pool complex in Tin Shui Wai.

Medical and Health projects represented a major part of the programme

this year. The new 700-bed Sha Tin Convalescent and Infirmary Hospital and staff quarters have been completed. Extension work to Tang Shiu Kin Hospital and the final phase of Stage II extension of Queen Mary Hospital have also been finished. Residual improvement and upgrading works of Queen Mary Hospital are planned for completion in 1994.

Work at the Pamela Youde Hospital in Chai Wan is progressing well, and works for the associated nurses training school and staff quarters commenced in May 1991. The entire complex is scheduled for completion in 1992. Other hospital projects under construction include extension and improvement works to Tsan Yuk Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital which are progressing well and will be completed in 1991. The superstructure construction of Siu Lam Hospital extension commenced during the year and is due for completion in 1994. Detail designs are being prepared for two convalescent hospitals, one located in Tai Po and the other in Tsuen Wan.

The Yuen Long Second Clinic and Clinic in Area 22, Tseung Kwan O were completed. Public clinics under construction, which will be completed in 1991, are Ap Lei Chau Clinic, an Urban Clinic in area 14D in Sha Tin and Tsing Yi Clinic.