ENG-2001 — Page 282

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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reducing the proliferation of unauthorised building works. On the other hand, the department will be empowered to issue warning notices of illegal structures and register such notices against title.

In addition, increased maximum fines are proposed for offences involving defective and/or dangerous building works and failure to comply with removal orders concerning illegal structures. The department expects that these legislative amendments will be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2002.

The Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department acts as the Government's architect in providing financial management, professional and technical services for all public building developments, except public housing, in three main areas:—

(i) monitoring and advisory services for all government bureaux and departments, including overseeing projects subvented by the Government. More than 1 750 projects, valued at $62 billion, were monitored in 2001;

(ii) professional and technical services for project management, design and supervising construction of building projects in the Public Works Programme and those of the Hospital Authority (HA). During the year, the department's rolling programme covered 330 projects, with a total value of $73 billion; and

(iii) building maintenance services, including provision of general maintenance for all public buildings and facilities, as well as those of the HA, covering a total floor area of approximately 25 million square metres. The department also undertakes conservation and restoration works on listed buildings and gazetted monuments, and emergency and major repairs on all subvented schools located outside public housing estates.

In 2001, the actual expenditure on building projects undertaken or monitored by the department was $11.84 billion, with a further $1.6 billion spent on routine maintenance works. The major building projects undertaken by the department were in the following categories:-

Education

Under the School Building Programme, 14 primary schools, three secondary schools and two special schools were completed. Construction work also started on 15 primary schools, seven secondary schools and two special schools. Under the School Improvement Programme, improvements to 38 schools were completed while works. on another 84 schools were under way.

In undertaking the school projects, measures have been developed to enhance efficiency and improve the environment. 'System-build' precast construction and metal formwork are employed in the construction of new schools, resulting in a reduction of construction wastes and enhancement in the quality of work. Fresh air pre-conditioners are installed in air-conditioned classrooms to provide air supply of desirable quality and enhance the energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system. These pre-conditioners are heat exchangers that recover energy from exhaust air and re-use it to pre-treat intake fresh air.