ENG-2016 — Page 251

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

priority enforcement against new UBWS and those creating a high risk of fire or to a building's structural safety, including UBWs associated with subdivided units. Removal of UBWs erected on the exterior of buildings, including rooftops, podiums and yards, as well as enforcement action at New Territories village houses continued. The department attended to 36,461 reports on UBWs, served 12,901 statutory removal orders and removed 26,430 UBWs. A total of 3,362 offenders were prosecuted for failure to comply with the orders and 2,713 cases were adjudicated, resulting in 2,165 convictions and fines totalling $12.1 million.

Lifts and Escalators

The government carries out long-term improvement measures to enhance the safety of lifts and escalators. Measures taken in 2016 included strengthening inspections, updating the Performance Assessment Scheme for the Contractors' Performance Rating System, releasing for public reference lift maintenance prices for private residential and commercial premises, and promoting modernisation of aged lifts and escalators.

Greening, Landscape and Tree Management

The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section takes a holistic approach to urban landscape based on enriching vegetation diversity and enhancing 'place ecology. It promotes the principle of 'Right Tree, Right Place' to achieve a more activated place ecology. This recognises trees as one of the elements of an urban setting, contributing to a holistic outlook. enriching the living environment.

The section issues guidelines on proper urban arboricultural practices in tree risk assessment, management and maintenance for public safety. It enforces these guidelines as part of a broader sustainable urban forestry strategy.

The section also works to structure the education and practices of the arboriculture and horticulture industry and raise the industry's professional standing. In 2016, it helped form a Steering Committee of the Horticulture and Arboriculture Trade Confederation to facilitate industry communication and assisted the Arboriculture and Horticulture Industry Training Advisory Committee in developing a qualification framework.

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 the dense and compact city of Hong Kong. The target is to enrich vegetation diversity, enhance the urban landscape and maximise the liveability of the environment at every opportunity.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Investment

The government builds new infrastructure and improves existing facilities to meet economic development needs and enhance the living environment. Capital works expenditure was about $76 billion in 2015-16. The annual expenditure is expected to stay at a high level for the next few years.

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