ENG-1993 — Page 259

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Extensive operations to remove unauthorised and potentially dangerous projections from the external walls of buildings proved successful. Eighty-five buildings were targeted during the year, with over 11 000 projections from more than 6 000 flats being pinpointed for demolition. Due to the widespread publicity of earlier operations, flat-owners and owners' corporations were more aware of the serious problems inherent in unauthorised building works and, as a consequence, a large proportion of the projections were removed voluntarily. The impact of these clearance operations on the urban environment can be clearly seen. The department's success is underlined by the fact that it now receives requests from owners to initiate action on their buildings.

During the year, 416 occupation permits were issued for completed buildings, compared with 443 in 1992. The amount of usable floor area provided was three million square metres and the total cost of new building works was $28,164 million.

Following the relaxation of the airport height restrictions, the monotonous skyline of the Kowloon peninsula is being broken by building redevelopment.

A new concept in the design of industrial buildings is emerging. Curtain walling, neo-classic motifs and pinnacle roofs have been widely employed recently to enhance the appearance of these buildings. Another change is that factory units are becoming smaller in size and provided with air-conditioning.

A large luxury residential project, the Gold Coast Development, was completed at Castle Peak Bay. The suburban resort includes a 450-room hotel with international conference facilities, a Mediterranean-style shopping mall, a 300-berth marina and country club, plus high-rise residential towers and low-rise beach houses.

Site formation work commenced for a new power station at Black Point, Tuen Mun. Two 600MW blocks of additional generating capacity will be installed in the station in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

Environmental initiatives continue to be pursued. Following the completion of the con- sultation exercise on the draft handbook on Overall Thermal Transfer Value in buildings, the department is following up with amendments to the Buildings Ordinance. The aim is to achieve energy efficiency in buildings through mandatory control. To promote energy efficiency, the department participated in an annual award scheme for the design of energy- efficient buildings, organised by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee.

The Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department is a large multi-disciplinary organisation with responsibility for providing technical advice on building-related matters to all government departments, financial and project management of public building developments under the Public Works Programme and for subvented building projects financed by the government. It is also responsible for professional design services for government, Urban Council and Regional Council buildings; and provides maintenance and management services for buildings owned or occupied by the government, the municipal councils, and the British Forces in Hong Kong.

During 1992–93, the department had over 500 projects under study, design and construction, valued at $38 billion. In addition, the value of subvented projects monitored by the department amounted to $13 billion. Actual expenditure on building projects undertaken or monitored by the department came to $5.8 billion, while expenditure on routine maintenance and minor alteration works to properties amounted to $1 billion.

URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES

REFERENCE LIBRARY

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