ENG-2014 — Page 253

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

housing estates, schools and government buildings and extending the voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme to cover flow controllers.

The government continued the feasibility study for a proposed desalination plant at Tseung Kwan O and started the planning work for reclaimed water supply to the north-eastern part of the New Territories for non-potable uses. The government also commenced a consultancy study to review the Total Water Management strategy.

Water Works

The replacement and rehabilitation programme involves some 3,000 kilometres of old water mains. The works have considerably reduced the number of mains bursts from around 2,500 cases in 2000 to about 170 cases in 2014. The leakage rate has also been significantly reduced from 25 per cent in 2001 to 16 per cent in 2014. The entire works programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

The works to expand Tai Po Water Treatment Works and its ancillary water transfer facilities are continuing. The detailed design for the re-provisioning of the South Works of the Sha Tin Water Treatment Works is progressing.

Water Accounts and Customer Relations

The number of water consumer accounts rose to approximately 2.88 million at the end of 2014.

A new 'WSD Mobile App' was launched in June, enabling customers to access account-related information through their smart phones. Application procedures for e-bill services were simplified in December. Apart from electronic water bills, customers can receive e-mail reminders for water bill payment before the due date and check their water consumption records online.

Construction Industry

Construction Industry Council

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) continued its initiatives to raise standards in the industry, including construction site safety, subcontracting, environment and technology, procurement, and manpower training and development. The CIC's training centres provide training and trade testing services for the construction industry.

In 2014, 604 applications were received for registration in the Subcontractor Registration. Scheme and 598 were approved, bringing the totals to 8,205 and 7,707 respectively since the scheme was introduced in 2003.

Construction Workers Registration

Amendments to the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance were approved by the Legislative Council in December. These will facilitate the prohibition of anyone from undertaking construction work of designated trades unless they have been registered for that trade. The amendments have been formulated according to the prevailing practice of the construction industry, and the prohibition requirement will come into effect 24 months after

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