ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEEOF FINANCE COMMITTEE
HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Education - Tertiary/other
69ET - Noise abatement measures in government schools, stage IV
Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 69ET to Category A at an estimated cost of $36.1 million in money-of-the-day prices for the implementation of noise abatement measures in 14 government schools under stage IV of the noise abatement programme.
Fourteen government schools are affected by traffic noise which exceeds the acceptable level.
2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary for Education and Manpower (SEM), proposes to upgrade 69ET to Category A at an estimated cost of $36.1 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices to provide noise abatement measures in these schools under stage IV of the noise abatement programme.
3. The scope of works comprises installation of air-conditioners and exhaust fans in the affected school rooms, sealing of existing windows and replacement of louvered windows, upgrading of the electricity supply and construction of transformer rooms and switch rooms, if necessary.
4. Traffic and aircraft noise affects teaching in classrooms and causes undue strain and disturbance to both teachers and students. The Steering Committee on the Pilot Study of Noise Abatement Measures in Schools under the Education and Manpower Branch has recommended that we should implement noise abatement measures in schools suffering from a noise level in excess of 65 dB(A) Leq (one hour) for road traffic/railway noise or 30 NEF for aircraft noise.
5. The government schools listed at the Enclosure are affected by road traffic/railway noise at a level over 65 dB(A) Leq (one hour). The Director of Education considers it necessary to implement noise abatement measures in these schools under stage IV of the noise abatement programme.
6. We estimate the capital cost of the project to be $36.1 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 7 below), made up as follows -
| $ million
|
|---|
| (a) Building | 15.6
|
| (b) Building services | 12.0
|
| (c) Contingencies | 2.8
|
| Sub-total | 30.4(at December
1995 prices)
|
| (d) Inflation allowance | 5.7
|
| Total | 36.1
(in MOD prices)
|
A detailed breakdown of the estimated cost of the improvement works for the affected schools is at the Enclosure.
7. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -
|
Year
|
$ million
(Dec 1995)
|
Price
adjustment
factor
|
$ million
(MOD)
|
|
1996 - 97
|
6.0
|
1.07500
|
6.5
|
|
1997 - 98
|
18.0
|
1.18250
|
21.3
|
|
1998 - 99
|
6.4
|
1.30075
|
8.3
|
|
30.4
|
|
36.1
|
8. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government's forecast of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1996 and 1999. D Arch S plans to use Architectural Services Department's term contractors to take up the works on a remeasurement basis.
9. We estimate the additional annually recurrent cost to be $1.43 million.
10. The noise abatement programme for schools started in 1987. This project is an extension of that programme arising from a recommendation of the Education Commission in its Report No. 5 which was endorsed by the Executive Council in February 1993 after extensive public consultation.
11. The Director of Environmental Protection envisages that there will be an improvement in the teaching environment in all affected schools upon completion of the works. For short term impact during construction, we will control dust and noise to within established guidelines/standards through the implementation of mitigation measures in the relevant contracts.
12. The project does not require land acquisition.
13. We upgraded 69ET to Category B in September 1995.
14. To reduce noise pollution at schools, we are carrying out a noise abatement programme in stages according to the severity of the noise problem encountered by individual schools.
15. Stage I of the programme comprised 38 schools affected by aircraft noise. We completed the works in 1989. Stage II comprised 121 schools affected by traffic noise in excess of 76 dB(A) Leg (one hour). Stage III comprised 269 schools affected by traffic noise at levels between 66 and 75 dB(A) Leg (one hour). D Arch S expects to complete the stage II and stage III works by May 1996. Stage IV of the programme covers 198 schools affected by traffic noise in excess of 65 dB(A) Leg (one hour). Of these 198 schools, 184 are aided schools and 14 are government schools.
16. Finance Committee on 8 December 1995 approved a commitment of $562.3 million in MOD prices under Subhead 8016EC "Noise abatement programme in schools, stage IV" to implement noise abatement measures in the 184 aided schools under stage IV.
17. The proposed works under 69ET will cater for the remaining 14 Government schools under Stage IV and are scheduled to start in July 1996 for completion in December 1997.
18. With the completion of Stage IV, the programme of noise abatement measures in schools will end. SEM will continue to monitor the situation and review whether further measures will be required in other schools in the future.
(DD1004)
|
Number of
classrooms
|
Number of
special rooms
|
Number of
staff rooms
|
Estimated
capital
cost
$'000
|
|
1. King's College
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
1,070
|
|
2. Tang Siu Kin Victoria Technical School
|
23
|
4
|
3
|
3,926
|
|
3. Homantin Government Secondary School
|
0
|
8
|
0
|
1,063
|
|
4. Wong Tai Sin Government Primary School
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
3,353
|
|
5. Tai Po Government Primary School
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
369
|
|
6. Sheung Shui Government Secondary School
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
1,325
|
|
7. Fanling Government Secondary School
|
25
|
1
|
1
|
3,613
|
|
8. Sha Tau Kok Government Secondary School
|
10
|
2
|
2
|
1,202
|
|
9. Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
1,070
|
|
10. Shatin Government Primary School
|
19
|
2
|
0
|
1,845
|
|
11. Tuen Mun Government Primary School
|
24
|
3
|
2
|
3,778
|
|
12. Tuen Mun Government Secondary School
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
3,353
|
|
13. Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School
|
0 |
8
|
0
|
1,063
|
|
14. Ha Kwai Chung Government Secondary Technical School
|
0
|
15
|
0
|
3,303 |
(DD1004)
69ET - Noise abatement measures in government schools, stage IV
(a) Necessity to go to PWSC
PWSC's endorsement is necessary for upgrading the project to Category A.
(b) Authority
The implementation of Noise Abatement Programme in Schools has been highlighted in the Governor's policy address in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
(c) Funding
An amount of $27.25 million at December 1995 prices has been earmarked for this project in the 1995 RAE. The balance of $3.15 million can be offset by savings under 163ES - Two secondary schools in area 24, Tseung Kwan O.
(d) Political assessment
This project is the fourth stage of the Noise Abatement Programme. There has been no adverse comments on the implementation of the Programme.
(e) Clearance with District Officer
In view that the works will be welcomed by the schools and parents concerned and it is unlikely that the local community will raise objection,SEM considers it not necessary to consult the relevant District Boards.
(f) Consultation with LegCo Panel
No consultation is required.
(g) Lobbying requirements
SEM considers that lobbying is not required.
(h) Fallback option
If Members raise objection to the proposal, we suggest the item be put to vote.
(i) Attendance at PWSC meeting
The following officers will attend the meeting -
Director of Architectural Services
Mr Kenneth CHAN
Principal Assistant Secretary (Education and Manpower) 2
Miss Annette LEE
Assistant Director of Education (Allocation and Support)
Mr Anthony K H TONG
(j) Special Consideration
In order to enable works to start during the summer vacation, PWSC/FC approval is now required.
(DD1004)
Last Updated on 8 December 1998
