ENG-2002 — Page 274

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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department's rolling programme covered 320 projects at a total value of $84 billion; and

(iii) building maintenance services, including the provision of general maintenance for all public buildings and facilities as well as those of the HA, covering a total floor area of approximately 26.7 million square metres. The department also undertakes conservation and restoration of listed buildings and gazetted monuments, and emergency and major repairs to all subvented schools outside public housing estates.

In January, the Government announced a plan for the re-engineering of the department. Under the plan, the department will focus on its strategic roles as the building authority for and steward of government buildings, and as the Government's corporate professional adviser on architectural policies, building planning and maintenance matters. The bulk of the building and maintenance works currently undertaken by the department will be gradually outsourced to the private sector. During the year, the level of outsourcing of new projects increased from 35 per cent in 2001 to 52 per cent.

In 2002, the actual expenditure on building projects undertaken or monitored by the department was $10.53 billion, with a further expenditure of $1.71 billion on routine maintenance and minor alteration works. The building projects undertaken by the department were in the following categories:-

Education

The construction of 22 schools was completed in 2002, and work on 26 schools commenced during the year. The department has completed improvements to 390 schools in recent years, including 22 schools in 2002. Improvement work at another 168 schools also commenced during the year.

Under the arrangement that allows schools to pool land resources for enhanced sports and parking facilities which would otherwise not be available to schools individually, a total of 10 such schools with shared facilities was completed. The largest of these shared facility campuses is the School Village at Diamond Hill where, in addition to parking, there are running tracks, a mini-soccer field, all-weather basketball courts, a jogging track and covered spectator stands. These facilities serve three primary schools and one secondary school.

In undertaking school projects, the department has developed measures to enhance efficiency in project delivery and to improve the environment. It employed 'System- build' precast construction and metal formwork in the construction of new schools, resulting in a reduction of construction wastes and enhancement in the quality of work. Fresh air pre-conditioners, which are heat exchangers recovering energy from exhaust air to pre-treat intake fresh air, are installed in air-conditioned classrooms to provide a desirable air quality supply and to enhance the energy efficiency of the air- conditioning system.

Disciplined Services

The Tai Chik Sha Fire Station and Ambulance Depot at Tseung Kwan O, and the Redevelopment of Tai Lam Correctional Institution were completed during the year. Construction was in progress on the Fire Station and Ambulance Depots in Tin Shui Wai, Sha Tau Kok and Braemar Hill; Phase III redevelopment of the Police