ENG-1994 — Page 279

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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freight station distribution centre, was completed in Kwai Chung, providing space for some 2 900 container vehicles in 800 000 square metres of floor space spread over 13 levels.

The Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department is a large multi-disciplinary organisation with responsibility for providing planning and technical advice on building-related matters to all government departments, financial control 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 the government, Hospital Authority, Urban Council, Regional Council and British Forces in Hong Kong; and provides maintenance services for buildings owned or occupied by these bodies.

During 1993-94, the department had over 300 projects under design and construction, valued at $22 billion. In addition, the value of subvented projects monitored by the department amounted to $14 billion. Actual expenditure on building projects undertaken or monitored by the department came to $6.8 billion, while expenditure on routine maintenance and minor alteration works to properties amounted to $2 billion.

Construction of a major, purpose-built, centralised government godown at Chai Wan will begin in January 1995 and is planned for completion in 1996. This godown will replace the existing storage facilities of the Government Supplies Department at both Oil Street in North Point and Cheung Sha Wan, and provide accommodation for a number of government departments presently located in leased premises. The Oil Street and Cheung Sha Wan sites will be released for redevelopment. At the same time, substantial savings in rent will be achieved. It is proposed that the Government Supplies Department's headquarters be accommodated separately in a new joint-user office building in Java Road, North Point, planned for completion in 1996.

Construction has also started on a number of projects in support of the new airport. They include radar and telecommunications stations located on hill-top and island sites in the vicinity of Chek Lap Kok and the Air Traffic Control Tower complex on Chek Lap Kok itself. The projects are due for completion in 1995, to enable the timely installation of air traffic control equipment. At the same time, the design of other projects connected to the new airport, such as its police station, fire station, air mail centre and Government Flying Service facilities, is in hand to enable construction to start in 1995.

Construction work started on the Ha Kwai Chung Clinic, which includes a school children's dental clinic, a child assessment centre and a special education service centre. The project is due for completion in 1996. Both the specialist out-patient clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Kwong Wah Hospital refurbishment and improvement scheme are due for completion in 1997. Major improvement works at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Kowloon Hospital and Buddhist Hospital are all due for completion in 1995. Other medical projects under construction include the Queen Mary Hospital extension and improvement, the Jockey Club Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology, and the extension block at Princess Margaret Hospital. They should be completed in 1995. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital refurbishment and improvement scheme, and the redevelopment of both the Jockey Club Institute of Radiology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Castle Peak Hospital are scheduled to be completed in 1996. The Princess Margaret Hospital