ENG-2017 — Page 262

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

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 $85 billion in 2016-17. The annual expenditure is expected to stay at a high level for the next few

years.

Project Cost Management

The Project Cost Management Office devises and implements measures to manage the costs of public works, promote cost management to the private construction sector and enhance project management performance to ensure project completion on time, within budget and according to the required quality and functionalities. The office also seeks to introduce innovative construction methods and advanced technologies, such as modular integrated construction, to the industry to enhance productivity and cost-effectiveness.

Drainage Services

The Drainage Services Department manages 2,751km of drains and watercourses and 27 village floodwater pumping schemes. It carries out flood prevention projects to cater for local developments and address probable effects of climate change. The planning, design and construction of flood prevention works in 2017 cost an estimated $25 billion.

The Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme came into full operation in March. 2017, greatly enhancing the flood protection capability in Happy Valley and Wan Chai. Kai Tak River improvement works will be completed in 2018 to reduce further the risk of flooding while revitalising and beautifying the river, turning the drainage facility into a green corridor.

The department inspects, de-silts and repairs drainage systems regularly. In 2017, it inspected 2,277km and de-silted 745km of drains and watercourses at a cost of about $148 million.

Slope Safety

The Civil Engineering and Development Department improves slope safety by adopting better standards and technology, ensuring all new man-made slopes meet safety standards, improving the safety of existing man-made slopes, and mitigating natural terrain landslide risks. The department also issues landslip warnings and provides information, education and community advisory services on slope safety.

Under the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme, the department spent $1.05 billion in 2017 to upgrade 155 substandard government man-made slopes and to mitigate the landslide risk of 49 natural hillside catchments. It also conducted safety screening studies on 100 private man-made slopes.

Drinking Water Safety

To safeguard the safety of drinking water holistically, the government announced in September an Action Plan for Enhancing Drinking Water Safety in Hong Kong, which comprises five components: drinking water standards and an enhanced water quality monitoring programme;

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