For discussion EC(96-97)57
on 29 January 1997
ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
HEAD 186 - TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT
Subhead 001 Salaries
Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the creation of the following permanent post in Transport Department -
1 Principal Government Engineer
(D3) ($119,650 - $126,800)
PROBLEM
The Commissioner for Transport (C for T) does not have sufficient support at the senior directorate level to meet the increased responsibility and workload of Transport Department (TD) and to provide engineering input in transport planning and traffic management activities.
PROPOSAL
2. We propose to create one permanent post of Principal Government Engineer (PGE) (D3) to cope with the above demands.
JUSTIFICATION
Increased workload and responsibility
3. Under the existing establishment, Deputy Commissioner for Transport (DC) (D3) is the only officer directly providing support to C for T (AOSGA). Since the creation of the DC post in 1979, the workload and responsibility of TD have increased substantially. At the same time, TD has to anticipate and respond to public demand for more efficient and sophisticated road networks and public transport services and customer-oriented licensing services. Through the years, there have been substantial developments in the following areas-
(a) Transport planning
The population in Hong Kong and cross-border economic activities have increased significantly. In order to ensure that the transport system meets the growing economic and social needs of the community, TD has to provide substantial input in planning and implementing transport links both within the territory and with neighbouring areas. This activity is assuming increasing importance.population and rapid economic development, we have to commission major transport studies to establish the updated model for transport infrastructure planning for Hong Kong at the strategic level in order to achieve effective results in transport planning. In early 1997, for example, we will commission the Third Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS-3) which is a major study to formulate an integrated and up-to-date transport strategy in highway development, public transport development, management measures on tolling, with assessment on cross border traffic demands and environmental impacts.
(b) Public transport services
Since 1979, passenger trips made by public transport have grown by 54%. During the same period, the number of franchised bus operators has increased from three to five. To ensure a better and more efficient bus service, TD has to see to it that the operators regularly review their existing networks and develop new routes. In addition, new bus franchises now include provision for a mid-term review during the franchise period. The review, which involves an assessment on the overall performance of the bus franchisee and its capability as a franchised bus operator half-way through the franchise period, is significant as we have to make recommendations on the future of the franchise based on the review exercise. There is at present one such franchise with its mid--term review due in 2000. We expect to grant two other new bus franchises with a similar provision in 1997. Both the ongoing planning activities and the reviews will require steer at a senior level.
(c) Infrastructure development
Our road network has grown by some 50%, from 1 150 km in 1979 to 1 720 km at present. Major transport infrastructure items coming on stream during the next two years include the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) and the connecting road systems, the Lantau Link, the Airport Railway and Route 3. This entails major changes in the provision of public transport services and places new demands on TD in terms of facility and traffic management.
(d) Technological development
To monitor and control traffic in the vastly expanded transport network, particularly on expressways and in tunnels, TD has to keep abreast with and make the best use of the latest technological advances in traffic management. We adopt the latest technology in computerised area traffic control, closed circuit television, emergency telephone and autotoll collection systems. We will have to continue to explore the employment of advanced technology in other areas.
(e) Public consultation
TDs interface with the public has increased significantly. Our community, both at the territory-wide and the local levels, now takes a much greater interest and plays a much more active role in the formulation of transport policy, the planning and provision of public transport services and the implementation of traffic management schemes. Before introducing any new measure, TD has to carry out extensive and, in some cases prolonged, consultation with the parties concerned, including the Legislative Council Transport Panel and District Boards with involvement of transport operators. This often requires the direction and involvement of C for T at the strategic level and DC at the local level.
(f) Environmental concernsimpact assessments
Increasing concern with the protection of the environment has much impact on the departments work.. environmental impact on individual transport projects. TD is heavily involved in the study of alternative fuel for diesel vehicles, particularly in evaluating the impact of various proposals on the affected transport modes and in liaising with the trade.essential.
Span of control
4. It has now come to a situation whereby C for T and DC are unable to give the various areas the level of attention they deserve. The span of control of the DC post has increased more than three-fold since its creation in 1979 : seven D2 officers currently work to her compared with two in 1979 in addition to the Departmental Secretary, the Senior Treasury Accountant and the Internal Audit Team. At the same time, there has been a 73% increase in the establishment of TD, from 764 to 1 323 posts. The existing organization chart of TD is at Enclosure 1. With the substantial increase in the volume and complexity of work of TD, the responsibilities of DC have become too heavy. The existing job description of the DC post is at Enclosure 2. To relieve DC of her heavy workload, C for T has to take up a number of major subjects with relevant D2 officers direct, such as transport and traffic matters relating to the commissioning of the WHC, the safety of school transport, the study of alternative fuel for diesel vehicles and policies for the planning and development of taxi and ferry services.
5. In addition to their regular duties, both C for T and DC have to deal with unforeseen problems which, if not handled immediately and effectively, would seriously affect the provision of transport services. They include labour disputes in the transport sector or disruptions in the services of a mass carrier. In these situations, C for T and/or DC are personally responsible for formulating a strategy, giving directions and deploying resources. This responsibility imposes a further demand on the senior directorate which is already fully stretched.
Engineering input at senior level
6. In addition to the general increase in the complexity and volume of work falling on C for T and DC and the department itself, there is an increasing need for additional engineering input at a senior directorate level in the following areas -
(a) Cross-border transport links
TD is actively involved in the planning of improvements to existing cross-border facilities and road links and the addition of new ones to meet the rapid increase in cross-border traffic. This includes reviewing freight and passenger traffic, travel pattern and demand and existing capacity statistics to produce updated cross-border traffic forecasts for different design years. These complex studies demand substantial transport planning input for the formulation of high level transport policies. TD is also responsible for planning new links and their alignment, and for ensuring close interface of these planning activities with the proposed Third Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS-3).
(b) CTS-3
The recently published Territorial Development Strategy Review has pointed to the need to accommodate a significant increase in population through housing and associated infrastructure development, including a transport network. The CTS-3 will formulate an integrated transport strategy up to 2011 as a guide to future transport planning studies and development strategies for different areas in Hong Kong. It will include a transport infrastructure development programme and a review of existing transport policy. It will determine what we need to do to achieve and maintain an acceptable level of mobility for passengers and freight by road, rail and ferry up to 2011, having regard to budgetary constraints and environmental issues. The comprehensive nature of the study demands substantial input from various specialised fields, including transport planning and modelling, and highway engineering.
(c) Strategic Road Network (SRN)Study
With the expansion of our network of strategic roads and expressways and the increasing volume of traffic using this network, traffic control and surveillance (TCS) systems for strategic roads are growing in number and complexity. We need to study the different levels of provision and the integration and operation issues, to formulate an optimum TCS system management strategy. We will have to consider various options, including the introduction of an "Intelligent Transport System", for managing our network in the most efficient manner to optimise road usage, enhance road safety and reduce traffic congestion caused by major accidents and other incidents. As a first step, TD will carry out a literature review. Subject to availability of funds, a detailed study will be carried out in late 1998 to examine the options best suited to Hong Kong, the related management and operational arrangements and the resource requirements. We need a senior directorate officer to give professional advice on what would be the best strategy and the most appropriate technology for Hong Kong.
(d) Railway projects
The planning and the design of the Western Corridor Railway (WCR), the MTR Tseung Kwan O Extension, improvements to the MTR Island Line, the Ma On Shan to Tai Wai rail link and the KCR extension from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui require substantial traffic and transport input from TD. The department has to assess the traffic implications of proposed developments associated with the projects, take part in planning adjacent public transport interchanges and give advice on the location of railway stations. These projects will change the travel patterns along the proposed railway alignments and have a widespread traffic impact on the whole territory. TD also has to scrutinise plans and proposals from railway corporations and consultants. It requires a professional officer at senior directorate level to liaise effectively with counterparts in these corporations and consultant firms.
(e) Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
In early 1997, we will commission a consultancy study to consider the feasibility of introducing ERP to Hong Kong. In view of the complexity and long-term implications of the study and the technological and engineering matters involved, a senior directorate officer should guide the project to achieve the best result.
7. C for T has reviewed the support provided to her and considered it necessary to strengthen engineering input at the senior directorate level in order to cope with the work commitments of TD more effectively. At present, there are two Government Engineer (GE) (D2) posts providing professional support to DC in strategic transport studies, transport planning in major infrastructural projects, and other engineering projects. Government Engineer/Port and Airport Development (GE/PAD) is responsible for co-ordinating and overseeing transport input to the projects arising from the Port and Airport Development Strategy (PADS) Studies. GE/PAD has also been asked to taken on, in addition to his other duties, direction and supervision of non-directorate engineering staff working on matters relating to the WCR and other railway projects. Workload in these areas is growing and will continue to do be so in the coming several years. high priority railway projects. Assistant Commissioner/Bus Development (AC/BD) heads the Bus Development Division to deal with franchised bus matters. Both are already fully engaged in their duties. Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Technical Services and Planning (AC/TSP) is responsible for a wide spectrum of work, including assisting DC in the formulation of policies and strategies on transport infrastructural improvements and management of road use, overseeing major studies on transport planning and road pricing, implementing area traffic control, traffic surveillance and information and other technical projects, formulatingterritorial transport planning, traffic engineering design standards, ensuring road safety and advising on office automation in the department. His existing duty list is at Enclosure 3. He has taken up the bulk of the increase in workload of an engineering nature in TD. He currently has six Chief Engineers and one Senior Engineer working to him. This is unsatisfactory because AC/TSP simply cannot cope with the volume and level of work. The complexity, importance and magnitude of some subjects warrant the attention of a more senior officer with engineering expertisewith the volume and level of work.
Proposed structure
8. Having reviewed the directorate structure, C for T proposes to address the lack of sufficient manpower at the Deputy level and the need to strengthen engineering support in TD by creating one post of PGE, to be designated as Deputy Commissioner/Planning and Technical Services (DC/PTS). The creation of the proposed DC/PTS post will enable C for T to redistribute the duties of DC and AC/TSP to relieve them of their heavy workload and enable them to attend to duties which are appropriate to their posts and ranks more effectively.
9. The existing DC, to be re-designated as DC/Management and Operations (DC/MO), will be responsible for the management and operations of transport services. She will oversee the work of AC/Bus Development (AC/BD), AC/Ferry and Paratransit, AC/Management and Licensing and the two ACs in charge of the regional offices. She will also supervise the administration of the department. The revised job description of DC/MO is at Enclosure 4. The proposed DC/PTS will be responsible for transport planning and directing the development of strategic transport infrastructure for the territory, including cross-border links, and providing input in the review of transport policy on road and traffic management. He will take over the existing transport planning and ERP functions from AC/TSP, who will be re-designated as Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Technical Services (AC/TS). In addition to overseeing the work of GE/PAD and AC/TS, he will supervise directly Chief Engineer/Transport Planning (CE/TP) and Chief Engineer/Electronic Road Pricing (CE/ERP). He will also give professional advice on traffic engineering matters to the regional ACs. The proposed revised job descriptions of DC/PTS and AC/TS are at Enclosures 5 and 6 respectively. The proposed organization chart of TD is at Enclosure 7.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
10. The additional notional annual salary cost of this proposal at mid-point 1996-97 prices) is $1,478,400. The full annual average staff cost of the proposal including salaries and staff on-costs is $2,454,084. This proposal will require the creation of one Personal Secretary I post to provide secretarial support to the proposed PGE post at a notional annual mid-point salary cost of $258,300 and a full annual average staff cost of $406,344.
11. We have included sufficient provisions in the Estimates for 1996-97 to meet the cost of this proposal.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
12. TD has undergone a significant expansion of its role and establishment since the creation of the DC post in 1979. In 1982, some 78 engineering staff were transferred from the old Public Works Department to TD, and this number has now grown to 128, with three officers at D2 level.
13. There are two supernumerary posts at D2 level : AC/BD and GE/PAD. We created the AC/BD post in May 1994 for a period of three years (until May 1997) to head the Bus Development Branch to deal with franchised bus matters. We will shortly seekseparate submission will shortly be made on the AC/BD post seeking Members approval to retain the AC/BD post because of the major ongoing work needed in this area. We first created the GE/PAD post in February 1990 on a supernumerary basis up to March 1992, to provide directorate input for the projects arising from the PADS Studies. The supernumerary post had since been retained on three occasions each for a period of two years. The post is due to lapse on 1 April 1998. We will review the need of the post in the light of the growing workload generated by various projects, including the railway projects, in due course.
CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH COMMENTS
14. The Civil Service Branch considers the ranking and grading of the proposed post appropriate, having regard to the responsibilities and professional input required.
ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
15. The Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service has advised that the grading proposed for the post of Principal Government Engineer would be appropriate if the post were to be created.
Transport Branch
January 1997
(E5513/WIN96)
MIS08:pge-rev.doc
Enclosure 2 to EC(96-97)57
Existing Job Description for Deputy Commissioner for Transport
Post : Deputy Commissioner for Transport
Rank : Deputy Commissioner for Transport (D3)
Responsible to : Commissioner for Transport (D6)
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To direct and oversee the work of the Regional ACs, AC/Bus Development, AC/Ferry and Paratransit, AC/Management and Licensing, Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services and Planning, Government Engineer/Port & Airport Development, Senior Treasury Accountant/Finance and Supplies, Departmental Secretary and Treasury Account/Internal Audit.
2. To advise and assist C for T in the formulation of policies and strategies in regulating and monitoring public transport services, and on transport planning, traffic management, road safety and planning standards and the provision of technical services.
3. To advise C for T on the transport aspect of major engineering projects undertaken by works departments.
4. To liaise with relevant policy branches and government departments on matters relating to public transport operations, land use, transport planning and traffic management.
5. To oversee the operation of public transport, including tendering, franchise renewal, fare increase applications and Route Development Programmes.
6. To represent C for T on the Boards of the New Lantau Bus Co., Tate's Cairn Tunnel Co. and New HK Tunnel Co. Ltd.
7. To assist C for T in the administration of the department.
8. To serve as Head of the Transport Officer grade and to be responsible for the management of the grade.
9. To chair the Departmental Consultative Committee and Transport Department Engineer Grade Consultative Committee and to maintain contact with staff unions of all grades in the department.
10. To serve as Controller of the Departmental Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre.
Enclosure 3 to EC(96-97)57
Existing Job Description for Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services and Planning
Post : Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services & Planning
Rank : Government Engineer (D2)
Responsible to : Deputy Commissioner for Transport (D3)
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To assist the DC in formulating policies and strategies on transport infrastructural improvements and managing road use.
2. To oversee studies on transport planning and road pricing, and the implementation of Area Traffic Control, Traffic Surveillance and Information and other technical projects.
3. To supervise and direct the activities of the following divisions/unit :
- Area Traffic Control Division
- Electronic Road Pricing Division
- Highway Surveillance and Systems Division
- Road Safety and Standards Division
- Territory Transport Planning Division
- Traffic and Transport Survey Division
- Headquarters (Computer Services) Unit
4. To liaise with relevant policy branches and government departments on matters relating to the work of the above divisions/unit.
5. To formulate traffic engineering design standards and advise on territorial transport planning, road pricing, traffic and transport surveys, district traffic studies and engineering design standards and office automation in the department.
Enclosure 4 to EC(96-97)57
Revised Job Description for Deputy Commissioner/Management and Operations
Post : Deputy Commissioner/Management and Operations
Rank : Deputy Commissioner for Transport (D3)
Responsible to : Commissioner for Transport (D6)
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To direct and oversee the work of the Regional ACs, AC/Bus Development, AC/Ferry and Paratransit, AC/Management and Licensing, Senior Treasury Accountant/Finance and Supplies, Departmental Secretary and Treasury Account/Internal Audit.
2. To advise and assist C for T in the formulation of policies and strategies in regulating and monitoring public transport services.
3. To oversee the operation of public transport, including tendering, franchise renewal, fare increase applications and Route Development Programmes.
4. To liaise with relevant policy branches and government departments on matters relating to public transport operations.
5. To represent C for T on the Boards of the New Lantau Bus Co., Tate's Cairn Tunnel Co. and New HK Tunnel Co. Ltd.
6. To assist C for T in the administration of the department.
7. To serve as Head of the Transport Officer grade and to be responsible for the management of the grade.
8. To chair the Departmental Consultative Committee and to maintain contact with staff unions of all grades in the department except the Engineer, Technical Officer (Traffic)/(Civil) and Traffic Assistant grades.
9. To serve as Controller of the Departmental Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre.
Enclosure 5 to EC(96-97)57
Proposed Job Description for Deputy Commissioner/Planning and Technical Services
Post : Deputy Commissioner/Planning and Technical Services
Rank : Principal Government Engineer (D3)
Responsible to : Commissioner for Transport (D6)
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To direct and oversee the work of AC/Technical Services, GE/Port and Airport Development, Chief Engineer/Transport Planning and Chief Engineer/Electronic Road Pricing.
2. To advise and assist C for T in the formulation of policies and strategies on transport planning, traffic management, road safety and planning standards and on the provision of technical services.
3. To direct strategic projects, including the Cross-Links Study, CTS-3, SRN Study, ERP and railway development.
4. To advise C for T on the transport aspect of major engineering projects undertaken by works departments.
5. To liaise with relevant policy branches and government departments on matters relating to land use, transport planning and traffic management.
6. To serve as Head of the Engineer grade in TD and to be responsible for the management of the grade.
7. To chair the Transport Department Engineer Grade Consultative Committee and Engineer Grade Posting Committee, and to attend the Engineer Grade Management Committee chaired by the Director of Civil Engineering.
8. To maintain contact with the Technical Officer (Traffic)/(Civil) and Traffic Assistant grades staff unions.
Enclosure 6 to EC(96-97)57
Revised Job Description for Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services
Post : Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services
Rank : Government Engineer (D2)
Responsible to : Deputy Commissioner/Planning and Technical Services (D3)
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To assist the DC/PTS in formulating policies and strategies relating to the planning and application of traffic engineering and intelligent transport systems in traffic management.
2. To oversee the implementation of Area Traffic Control, Traffic Surveillance and Information and other technical projects.
3. To supervise and direct the activities of the following divisions/unit :
- Area Traffic Control Division
- Highway Surveillance and Systems Division
- Road Safety and Standards Division
- Traffic and Transport Survey Division
- Headquarters (Computer Services) Unit
4. To liaise with relevant policy branches and government departments on matters relating to the work of the above divisions/unit.
5. To formulate traffic engineering design standards and advise on traffic and transport surveys, district traffic studies and office automation in the department.
Last Updated on 12 August 1999
