ENG-2005 — Page 262

220 Land, Public Works and Utilities

2004. It was the sixth consecutive year to show a decrease. The construction design management system aiming at strengthening safe practice during construction and maintenance stages of a project by systematic consideration and documentation of the risk control measures at the design stage was implemented in 13 more projects during the year. This will become the norm in future for major public works projects.

In addition, a package of measures for controlling nuisances including air, noise and waste-water pollution in the construction process together with the incentive scheme, 'Pay for Environment', were developed for public works contracts to improve their environmental performance. To promote energy saving, a general policy was formulated for all new government projects and installations to adopt energy efficient features, and where applicable, renewable energy technologies in their designs.

The Government, working in close partnership with the Provisional Construction Industry Coordination Board (PCICB), has achieved notable progress on most recommendations made by the Construction Industry Review Committee. To strengthen communications with key stakeholders, the board has continued to publicise its latest achievements through various channels and circulated a quarterly leaflet to all interested parties complementing information

complementing information on its website, www.pcicb.gov.hk.

New legislation that proposes to establish the Construction Industry Council as an umbrella organisation with statutory powers to exercise self-regulation and take ownership of industry reforms is being scrutinised by the Legislative Council.

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The first phase of the voluntary subcontractor registration scheme (VSRS) launched in November 2003 has received an encouraging response. By the end of 2005, some 2 900 applications for registration were received and about 2 650 cases approved. The PCICB has started drawing up plans for implementing the next phase of the VSRS embracing a Premier Register with more stringent entry requirements and grading based on the capability of individual subcontractors.

After more than a year of preparation, the Construction Workers Registration Authority established under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance started to register local construction workers on December 29, 2005. The objective is to ensure the quality of construction works through assessment of the skill levels of workers by an objective registration mechanism. The registration is expected to complete by August 2006. Subsequently, the relevant provisions in the ordinance will come into operation to prohibit unregistered workers from carrying out construction work on sites and the employment of unregistered workers to carry out such work. This will help combat the employment of illegal workers and resolve wage disputes between contractors and workers.

The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) continued discussions with stakeholders of the Hong Kong construction industry and the Ministry of Construction (MoC) on the third phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Additional commitments such as the recognition of project performance on both sides and the relaxation of the