ENG-2019 — Page 251

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

Applying the principle that prevention is better than cure, the Buildings Department enforces the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme to tackle building decay at its root by requiring owners of target buildings to inspect and repair their buildings and windows. In 2019, the department issued statutory notices to 823 buildings under these schemes.

The Buildings Department, URA and Hong Kong Housing Society support building owners in carrying out repairs and maintenance. In 2019, subsidies and loans exceeding $180 million were granted to eligible property owners under schemes including Operation Building Bright 2.0 and the Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Elderly Owners, which will be renamed the Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners. In October, the government announced injecting an additional $3 billion and $2 billion into the two schemes respectively.

The URA's 'Smart Tender' Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services scheme, launched in 2016, provides technical support to building owners in carrying out repairs and maintenance, to reduce the risk of bid rigging during procurement. Eligible building owners may participate at a concessionary rate. As at end-2019, some 1,000 applications had been approved.

On enforcement, the Buildings Department acts against unauthorised building works (UBWs). It takes priority enforcement against UBWs that are new or under construction, and those which constitute an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life and property. UBWs are to be removed according to the department's enforcement policy if they have been erected on building exteriors, including rooftops, podiums and yards; are associated with subdivided units; are found in New Territories exempted houses; or are signboards. In 2019, the department served 12,186 statutory removal orders and removed 28,374 UBWs. It also instigated 3,642 prosecution cases and secured 2,159 convictions in court for failure to comply with the orders, resulting in fines totalling $14.91 million. A publicity campaign by the department encourages a culture of building safety.

Lifts and Escalators

The government enhances the safety of lifts and escalators by strengthening inspections and revising the Code of Practice on the Design and Constructions of Lifts and Escalators. The Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme, a joint initiative between the government and the URA launched in 2018, aimed to subsidise the modernisation of about 5,000 aged lifts. In view of the response to the first round of applications, the government announced in the 2019 Policy Address to expand the scheme to subsidise the works of about 3,000 more aged lifts.

Infrastructure

Construction 2.0

To cope with high construction costs, an ageing construction workforce and rising public aspirations for better performance of public works projects, the government is pursuing Construction 2.0 - Time to Change to reform and upgrade the construction industry. Under the three pillars of innovation, professionalisation and revitalisation, the government aims to raise the capacity and sustainability of the industry, increase productivity, enhance regulation and quality assurance, improve site safety and reduce environmental impact.

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