ENG-2006 — Page 262

214 | Land, Public Works and Utilities

The Government is committed to the highest standards of slope safety. Starting in 2000, the Ten-Year Extended Landslip Preventive Measures Programme which involves spending of up to $9 billion by 2010 has progressed well. Some 1 500 substandard government slopes have been upgraded and landscaped and over 1 800 private slopes have been safety-screened since 2000.

Construction site safety has continued to improve. The accident rate of public works carried out under contracts in 2006 was 13 accidents per 1 000 workers, a decrease of 24 per cent over 2005. It was the seventh consecutive year of decrease. The construction design management system for strengthening safe practices at construction sites and during construction has been implemented in major public works projects.

In addition, a package of measures for controlling nuisances such as air, noise and waste-water pollution created during construction has been implemented together with an incentive scheme called 'Pay for Environment'. A series of training courses has been developed in collaboration with a local training institute to help site supervisory staff better understand the need for environmental protection. As a general policy, all new government building projects and major installations are to adopt energy efficient features and, where applicable, renewable energy technologies in their designs to save energy.

The Government, working in close partnership with the Provisional Construction Industry Coordination Board (PCICB), has made notable progress in carrying out most of the recommendations made by the Construction Industry Review Committee. The board continues to use its website, www.pcicb.gov.hk to communicate with the industry's stakeholders and to keep them informed of the latest developments and achievements

Following the passage of the Construction Industry Council Ordinance in May 2006, the Construction Industry Council will be set up in February 2007 to exercise self-regulation and take charge of the industry's reforms.

Response to the first phase of the Voluntary Subcontractor Registration Scheme (VSRS), launched in November 2003, has been encouraging. By the end of 2006, some 3 450 applications for registration were received and 2 931 were approved. The PCICB is examining plans for the next phase of the VSRS which may include the setting up of a Premier Register with stricter entry rules and grading based on the capability of individual subcontractors.

Since the Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) started to register construction workers in December 2005, more than 125 000 workers have been registered. The CWRA is planning to implement the prohibition provisions under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance in two phases. Under the first phase, unregistered workers will be prohibited from working at construction sites. Under the second Phase, those not registered as skilled or semi-skilled workers of a designated trade will not be allowed to work in that trade.