For discussion PWSC(95-96)81
on 24 January 1996

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Education - Tertiary/other
81ET - School Improvement Programme - Phase 3 (government schools)

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -

1. the upgrading of part of 81ET, entitled “School Improvement Programme, Phase 3 (government schools) - site investigations and consultants' fees” to Category A at an estimated cost of $30.7 million in money-of-the-day prices for site investigations, detailed design and contract documentation for improvement works at 22 government schools in Phase 3 of the School Improvement Programme; and
2. the retention of the remainder of 81ET in Category B.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

Primary schools
Secondary schools

JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
LAND ACQUISITION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
81ET - School Improvement Programme - Phase 3 (government schools)
List of government primary and secondary schools under Phase 3 of SIP

Primary schools (10)
Secondary schools (12)

81ET - School Improvement Programme - Phase 3 (government schools)
81ET - School Improvement Programme (SIP) Phase 3 (government schools)

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PROBLEM

Twenty-two existing government schools were built to old planning standards. They do not have enough space and facilities to meet the new requirements arising from changes in curriculum and teaching approaches in recent years.

2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S) does not have sufficient in-house staff resources to carry out pre-contract preparatory work and site investigations for the implementation of the required improvement works at these government schools. A list of these schools is at Enclosure 1.

PROPOSAL

3. D Arch S, with the support of the Secretary for Education and Manpower, proposes to upgrade part of 81ET to Category A at an estimated cost of $30.7 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for carrying out site investigations, detailed design and contract documentation for improvement works at 22 government schools in Phase 3 of the School Improvement Programme (SIP).

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

4. Under Phase 3 of the SIP, we will provide the 22 government schools with the following additional facilities -

Primary schools

1. two remedial teaching rooms, an additional staff room, a staff common room, two interview rooms, a student activity centre and a library; and

Secondary schools

2. additional classrooms, an additional staff room; a staff common room, two interview rooms and a student activity centre.

5. The works in question fall within two categories, i.e. addition/alteration works within the existing school buildings and construction of extensions to the existing school buildings (either as an annex or in the form of roof-top extensions).

6. The scope of the proposed consultancy comprises feasibility studies, detailed design and contract documentation for the proposed improvement works and the associated site investigations.

JUSTIFICATION

7. The SIP was one of the recommendations of the Education Commission Report No. 5 endorsed by the Executive Council in February 1993. The Governor announced in his 1993 and 1994 Policy Addresses to the Legislative Council the Government's plans for implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the SIP.

8. The layout and facilities in the 22 existing government primary and secondary schools cannot meet the requirements arising from changes in curriculum and teaching approaches in recent years. The Director of Education considers it necessary to improve the facilities of these schools under Phase 3 of the SIP. The proposed improvement works, when completed, will provide additional space and facilities for teaching, out-of-class activities and supporting services for both teachers and students.

9. As we plan to start the superstructure works for government schools in Phase 3 of the SIP in June 1997, we need to proceed with investigations and pre-contract preparatory work now. Due to insufficient in-house staff resources, we need to engage consultants to carry out the pre-contract preparatory work and site investigations for the proposed improvement works.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

10. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed consultancy and site investigations to be $30.7 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 11 below), made up as follows -

A breakdown by man months of the estimate for consultants' fees is at Enclosure 2.

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

12. 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 1998.

13. The proposed consultancy will not give rise to annually recurrent expenditure.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

14. In June 1992, we conducted extensive public consultation on the recommendations of the Education Commission Report No. 5, which was endorsed by the Executive Council in February 1993.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

15. The proposed consultancy will not have adverse environmental implications. D Arch S will incorporate environmental control measures in relevant contract documents such that the environmental impact arising from the school improvement works can be controlled within established standards and guidelines.

LAND ACQUISITION

16. The proposed consultancy does not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

17. Details of Phases 1 to 3 of the SIP are at Enclosure 3. Members will note that as part of Phase 3, we intend to submit papers for similar improvements to be made to 128 aided schools.

18. We upgraded this project to Category B in September 1995.

19. D Arch S plans to appoint consultants in March 1996 to carry out feasibility studies, detailed design and contract documentation for the improvement works. He expects that the pre-contract preparatory work will be completed by February 1997 for piling works and May 1997 for superstructure works. He will proceed with the piling works in March 1997 and superstructure works in June 1997 for completion of the whole project in 1998.

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Enclosure 1 to PWSC(95-96)81

81ET - School Improvement Programme - Phase 3 (government schools)

List of government primary and secondary schools under Phase 3 of SIP

Primary schools (10)

1. Li Sing Primary School;
2. Hennessy Road Government Primary School;
3. Shaukeiwan Government Primary School;
4. Fuk Wing Street Government Primary School;
5. Tong Mei Road Government Primary School;
6. Farm Road Government Primary School;
7. Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School;
8. Wong Tai Sin Government Primary School;
9. Tuen Mun Government Primary School; and
10. Sha Tin Government Primary School.

Secondary schools (12)

1. King's College;
2. Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Technical School;
3. Queen's College;
4. Belilios Public School;
5. Kowloon Technical School;
6. Jockey Club Government Secondary Technical School;
7. Lung Cheung Government Secondary Technical School;
8. Kwun Tong Government Secondary Technical School;
9. Tuen Mun Government Secondary School;
10. NTHYK Yuen Long District Secondary School;
11. Fanling Government Secondary School; and
12. Ha Kwai Chung Government Secondary Technical School.

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Enclosure 2 to PWSC(95-96)81

81ET - School Improvement Programme - Phase 3 (government schools)

Breakdown of the estimate for consultants' fees

Notes

1. The average estimated cost per professional man month is roughly equivalent to a professional on MPS point 44.
2. The average estimated cost per technical man month is roughly equivalent to a Technical Officer on MPS point 20.
3. The figures given above are based on estimates for SIP Phase 2 prepared by the Director of Architectural Services. We will only know the actual man months and actual fees when the designs are finalized and construction cost estimates are prepared.
4. The estimated consultants’ fees are based on estimates for Phase 2 prepared by the Director of Architectural Services. The actual fees will be computed from a standard percentage scale on the actual cost of work after the scope of work can be more clearly defined upon completion of the feasibility studies.

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Enclosure 3 to PWSC(95-96)81

81ET - School Improvement Programme (SIP) Phase 3 (government schools)

Works programmes for Phases 1 to 3 of the SIP

* The original scope for Phase 1 is 110 schools. Following feasibility studies, we have replaced 22 schools found not suitable for improvement works with another 16 schools, thereby reducing the number of schools from 110 to 104. We aim to complete all the projects by early 1997.

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