For discussion PWSC(95-96)57
on 8 November 1995

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Education - Secondary
159ES - Second secondary school in Tsui Wan Estate, Chai Wan

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 159ES to Category A at an estimated cost of $88 million in money-of-the-day prices for the construction of a secondary school in Tsui Wan Estate, Chai Wan.

PROBLEM

The Director of Education (D of E) forecasts that there will be a shortfall of 466 secondary school classes in the territory by 1997.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary for Education and Manpower, proposes to upgrade 159ES to Category A at an estimated cost of $88 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for the construction of a secondary school in Tsui Wan Estate, Chai Wan.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The secondary school will follow the new standard design which comprises -

  1. 26 classrooms;
  2. 14 special rooms;
  3. three remedial teaching rooms;
  4. a guidance activity/interview room;
  5. two interview rooms;
  6. a staff common room;
  7. a student activity centre; and
  8. an assembly hall and ancillary facilities.

When compared with the previous standard design, the new standard design provides for additional accommodation (see (d) to (g) above) as recommended in the Education Commission Report No. 5; and access facilities for the disabled.

JUSTIFICATION

4. There is at present a shortfall of 703 secondary school classes in the territory. D of E forecasts that the shortfall will be 466 classes by 1997. We are adopting floating classes in secondary schools to meet the shortfall. In accordance with the Government policy to phase out floating classes in Secondary One to Secondary Five, we propose to build a secondary school in Tsui Wan Estate, Chai Wan to reduce the shortfall. We are planning more schools to meet the remaining shortfall.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5. We estimate the capital cost of the project to be $88 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 6 below), made up as follows -


 $ million

(a) Piling

21.3

(b) Building

28.2

(c) Building services

7.2

(d) Drainage and external works

6.5

(e) Contingencies

6.3

Sub-total
(at December 1994 prices)

69.5

(f) Inflation allowance

18.5

Total
(in MOD prices)

88.0

The high piling cost is due to difficult site conditions. The site in question was reclaimed between 1960 and 1973 by public dumping. We expect to encounter boulders and cobbles over most of the area within the public dumping fill layer and the original alluvial deposits underneath. D Arch S has examined various piling options. He considers the use of large diameter bored piles to be the most suitable foundation option. Given the high piling cost, we have confirmed that there are no other sites readily available for the construction of a school in the Eastern District to meet the shortfall in secondary school places in 1997.

6. Subject to approval, we will phase expenditure as follows -

Year $ million
(Dec 1994) 		Price
adjustment
factor 		$ million
(MOD)

1996 - 97

30.3

1.18250

35.8

1997 - 98

29.9

1.30075

38.9

1998 - 99

9.3

1.43083

13.3

69.5

88.0

We derive the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government’s forecast of trend labour and construction prices over the period between 1996 and 1999. We will tender the works as a fixed-price lump-sum contract because we can clearly define the scope of works in advance, leaving little room for uncertainty.

7. As it will be an aided school, the sponsoring body will bear the cost of furniture and equipment, estimated at $4.8 million.

8. We estimate the annually recurrent expenditure to be $30.5 million.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

9. We consulted the Eastern District Board in May 1995. The District Board supported this school project.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

10. The Environmental Protection Department completed an Environmental Review of this project in March 1995. The findings indicated that the project would have no long term adverse impact. No Environmental Impact Assessment is therefore necessary. For short term impact, we will control noise, dust and site run-off during construction through the implementation of mitigation measures in relevant contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

11. The project does not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

12. We upgraded 159ES to Category B in April 1995.

13. We are finalizing the working drawings and tender documents using in-house staff resources. We have scheduled the proposed works to start in March 1996 for completion in August 1997.

Last Updated on 8 December 1998