ENG-2015 — Page 246

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

measures in 2015, including strengthening inspections, releasing for public reference the lift maintenance price figures for private commercial premises, and launching a pilot Quality Lift Service Recognition Scheme to promote modernisation of aged lifts and encourage responsibility in managing and maintaining lifts better.

Greening, Landscape and Tree Management

The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, established under the bureau's Works Branch in 2010, seeks to implement a holistic approach to landscaping based on enriching biodiversity and enhancing 'place ecology.

Since 2010, the section has worked with government departments, green groups, schools and non-governmental organisations to plant about 50 million trees and shrubs. The section has been promoting the principles of 'Right Tree, Right Place' with a view to achieving a more activated place ecology. This means that trees are one of the elements of an urban setting and contribute to a holistic outlook further enriching Hong Kong's living environment.

The section has also issued technical circulars and guidelines on good practices in proper planting, tree risk assessment, management and maintenance for public safety. In 2015, it revamped the 'Guidelines on Tree Risk Assessment and Management' to enhance robustness of the risk assessment approach. It also launched a Handbook on Tree Management for inclusion in a Code of Practice issued under the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344). The handbook encourages private property owners to adopt a holistic approach in tree management.

The government's landscape policies promote liveability through delivering higher quality landscape planning and design in the upstream and more diligent landscape management downstream. This is supported by the life-cycle planning of urban forestry assets and moderation of the vegetation's life expectancy within a dense and compact city such as Hong Kong. The target is to bring noticeable enrichment in biodiversity and urban ecology, to enhance green areas and to maximise the liveability of the local environment at every opportunity.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Investment

The government is committed to building new infrastructure and improving existing facilities. to meet economic development needs and enhance the living environment. Capital works expenditure was about $70 billion in 2014-15. The government will continue to invest in infrastructure development, with the annual expenditure expected to stay at a high level for the next few years.

Drainage Services

Flood Prevention

The Drainage Services Department manages about 2,746km of drains and watercourses. To reduce flooding risks, it completed various flood prevention projects in the past years and embarked on the planning, design and construction of further flood prevention works at a total cost of about $12.3 billion.

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