ENG-2007 — Page 282

230 ■ Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Construction of Choi Wan Road Fresh Water Service Reservoir, Choi Wan Road Salt Water Service Reservoir and Ping Che Fresh Water Service Reservoir was completed during the year. The remedial work on the rip-rap at the Plover Cove Reservoir's main dam was continuing.

The Water Supplies Department continues to work on plans for providing a reliable supply of fresh and salt water to new developments and redevelopments taking place in Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island, Sham Shui Po and West Kowloon Reclamation in Kowloon, and Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Ma On Shan, Sai Kung and Lantau in the New Territories.

To facilitate better planning and enhance progress and financial control of maintenance works, the Maintenance Works Management System was commissioned and successfully rolled out in March 2007.

Water Accounts and Customer Relations

The number of consumers with water accounts continues to rise gradually. At year-end, the department was handling approximately 2.7 million accounts. To provide greater convenience to customers, the paying of water bills and other matters such as change of addresses can be done online. The Water Supplies Department also continues to act as an agent for collecting sewage charges and trade effluent surcharges on behalf of the Drainage Services Department.

To enhance the accuracy of water meters, a territory-wide five-year programme, launched in 2006 for replacing 1.3 million ageing domestic water meters, continued in 2007.

The voluntary Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme, launched in July 2002 to encourage proper maintenance of internal plumbing systems in buildings, continues to receive public support. Renewal certificates are now valid for two years instead of one year.

Construction Industry

Construction Industry Council

Following the

the substantial completion of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Construction Industry Review Committee (CIRC), an overall review on the progress achieved was conducted in February 2007.

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) was formed in 2007 to sustain the momentum of reform generated by the implementation of CIRC recommendations. CIC has established committees focusing on construction site safety, subcontracting, environment and technology, procurement, manpower training and development and is pursuing in close partnership with government initiatives conducive to the long- term development of the construction industry. CIC is using its website at www.hkcic.org to keep industry stakeholders informed of the latest developments.

CIC will amalgamate with the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) on January 1, 2008. Upon the amalgamation, CIC took over from the CITA the collection. of industry levy and formed the Construction Industry Training Board to continue.