LegCo Paper No. PWSC 29/96-97
(These minutes have been
seen by the Administration)

Ref : CB1/F/2/2

Public Works Subcommittee

Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting
held on Wednesday, 18 December 1996
at 10:45 am in the Legislative Council Chamber

Members present :

Members attending :

Members absent :

Public officers attending :

Mr Bowen LEUNG, JP: Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands
Mr H S KWONG, JP: Secretary for Works
Mr Rob LAW, JP: Director of Environmental Protection
Mrs Carrie LAM: eputy Secretary for the Treasury (3)
Mr James HERD: Principal Assistant Secretary for the Treasury (Works)
Dr Michael CHIU: Assistant Director of Environmental Protection
Mr John COLLIER, JP: Director of Drainage Services
Mr S S LEE, JP: Director of Territory Development
Mr M S HU, JP: Director of Water Supplies
Mr Kenneth CHAN, JP: Director of Architectural Services
Ms Olivia NIP: Principal Assistant Secretary for Education and Manpower (6)
Mr CHENG Man-yiu: Principal Education Officer of Education Department (Allocation and Support)
Mr Tony MA: Assistant Director of Urban Services (Museums and Libraries)
Dr FUNG Hong: Deputy Director (Hospital Planning & Development), Hospital Authority
Mr Clement CHEUNG: Principal Assistant Secretary for Health and Welfare (Medical)2

Clerk in attendance:

Mrs Constance LI: Chief Assistant Secretary (Finance Committee)

Staff in attendance:

Miss Pauline NG: Assistant Secretary General 1
Mr Andy LAU: Senior Assistant Secretary (Finance Committee)

As Dr Samuel WONG Ping-wai had other commitments, Mr Albert CHAN Wai-yip, the Deputy Chairman, chaired this meeting.

2. The Chairman informed the meeting that the Administration had withdrawn paper PWSC(96-97)78 from the agenda of the meeting.

NON-AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME

Upgrading of projects to Category A

HEAD 702 - PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

PWSC(96-97)84

112AP

Update on cumulative water quality and hydrological effect of coastal developments and upgrading of assessment tool

3. Members expressed concern about the deteriorating quality of Hong Kong waters resulting from the various reclamation and development projects along the harbour. They enquired if the proposed study would also address these concerns. In reply, the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) advised that the purpose of the study was to update the hydrological and water quality survey data collected several years ago in order to provide more accurate assessments on the cumulative effects of coastal developments on water quality and hydrology. The study would not cover the protection of the ecosystem and conservation of fisheries which would be the responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. The study findings therefore would not have any implications on ex-gratia payments for fishermen.

4. With regard to the criteria to select consultants for the study, a member asked whether the Government would give priority to local-based companies to allow more effective transfer of experience to local staff. DEP advised that the tendering exercise would follow the standard procedures for the award of consultancy contracts, and the existing scoring system assessed the relative merits of the eligible companies rather than their place of origin. Nevertheless, companies with local experience would have relatively more merits than the other companies because of their familiarity with the local environment. He also assured members that the information obtained from the study would be kept by the Government.

5. The item was voted on and endorsed.

HEAD 704 - DRAINAGE

PWSC(96-97)76

78CD

Stormwater drainage master plan study in Tuen Mun and Sham Tseng

6. The item was voted on and endorsed.

HEAD 707 - NEW TOWNS AND URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT

PWSC(96-97)79	426CL	North Lantau phase 2A development in Tung Chung, roads and drains
	75WC	North Lantau water supply - distribution mains in Tung Chung development phase 2

Admin

7. On the choice of noise mitigation measures, a member asked how effective the low-noise road-surface was in reducing noise nuisance, as compared to other measures being used. In reply, the Director of Territory Development (DTD) advised that low-noise road-surfacing materials could reduce the noise level by a few decibels. The method was more suitable for local roads which were not subject to heavy usage, and was used to supplement other mitigation measures for the affected areas. He further advised that the capital costs for the provision of low-noise road-surfacing in this project would be about $8.5 million. Depending on the road conditions, re-surfacing normally took place once every few years as part of the normal road maintenance programme. He undertook to provide further information on the capital cost comparison of different types of road-surfacing materials in use and their normal usable life span.

8. A member commented that the estimated costs for road construction appeared rather expensive. In response, DTD advised that the estimates were reasonable, having regard to the total length of the roads and the latest trend prices for such projects.

9. The Chairman suggested that the Administration should consider the feasibility of making use of the proposed landscaping works (green area) as a noise abatement measure to achieve greater cost-effectiveness.

10. The item was voted on and endorsed.

HEAD 709 - WATERWORKS

PWSC(96-97)77

79WC

Additional trunk transfer facilities to Kowloon eastern areas and water supply to Anderson Road Quarries site development - stage 1

Admin

11. Members sought clarification on the control measures regarding safety, environmental protection, noise and traffic during the construction period. In reply, the Director of Water Supplies (DWS) advised that there were standard control clauses in the relevant works contracts to address these concerns. He would provide further information on the details of such control clauses, together with the programme of the proposed project.

12. With regard to the traffic arrangements during construction, DWS advised that while some disruption to the traffic was expected, the Department would liaise closely with the Police and Transport Department to minimize such impacts.

Admin

13. As the project was to provide additional water supply facilities to the planned housing developments at Po Lam Road and Lee On Road platforms formed by rehabilitation of the Anderson Road Quarries, a Member in attendance expressed concern that a government official had mentioned the suspension of the rehabilitation programme at a recent Kwun Tong District Board meeting. In response, the Secretary for Works advised that he was not aware of any major obstacles to the rehabilitation programme. He undertook to look into the matter and provide an information paper on the latest position of the programme.

14. The item was voted on and endorsed.

HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS

PWSC(96-97)81

76ET

Practical school in area 103, Ma On Shan

15. In reply to a member, the Principal Education Officer (Allocation and Support) of Education Department (PEO/AS) confirmed that the provision of 120 boarding places was based on the standard ratio applied to all practical schools. Substantial increase in demand for such places was not envisaged although some flexibility had been built in for limited expansion in future if necessary.

16. Noting that some residents associations had raised objection to the location of the proposed practical school, a member asked what action had been taken by the Government to allay their concerns. In response, PEO/AS advised that briefings and visits had been organised for the residents concerned. The entrance of the school would also be re-located to avoid facing the residential blocks. The Education and Welfare Committee of the Sha Tin District Board had been consulted on the project. The Committee had indicated support for the project.

17. With regard to the policy issues concerning practical schools, the Chairman advised that the subject could be further discussed at the LegCo Panel on Education.

18. The item was voted on and endorsed.

PWSC(96-97)82	78ET	Skills opportunity school at Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill
	79ET	Skills opportunity school in area 3, Tuen Mun
	82ET	Skills opportunity school in area 7, Tsing Yi

19. Members noted that the cost estimates for building services for 78ET, 79ET and 82ET given in paragraph 6(c) of the discussion paper should be amended to read $6.9 million, $10.7 million and $9.1 million.

20. The item was voted on and endorsed.

PWSC(96-97)83

36RE

Lei Yue Mun Museum

21. On the facilities to be provided in the proposed Lei Yue Mun Museum, the Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S) advised that its design had already catered for the needs of both local and foreign visitors. In addition to the provision of parking space for coaches and other vehicles, there would be restaurants, souvenir counters and adequate toilet facilities.

Admin

22. Members were concerned that, to encourage patronage, the Museum should be easily accessible to visitors and local residents. In response, the Administration advised that the main entrance at A Kung Ngam was accessible by public transport, coaches and other vehicles. Shuttle bus services would also be provided to transport visitors from the MTR station to the Museum. With regard to the feasibility of constructing another access from Heng Fa Chuen, D Arch S advised that the proposal would not be cost-effective as this would involve substantial slope stability works. Nevertheless, the Administration took note of members suggestion that adequate directional signs should be provided to guide visitors to the Museum. As regards the access road linking the Museum with Lei Yue Mun Park, the Administration clarified that it would be restricted to services and emergency vehicles. At the request of the Chairman, the Administration agreed to provide a layout plan of the proposed Museum showing its facilities and the various access routes.

23. With regard to the need to engage consultants, D Arch S explained that as the department did not have adequate manpower to supervise this project, consultants would be engaged for project management. This was in line with the normal practice for government projects. The Administration noted members comments that information on the need to engage consultants should be included in future discussion papers.

24. The item was voted on and endorsed.

PWSC(96-97)78

81ET

School Improvement Programme - phase 3 (government schools)

25. The paper had been withdrawn by the Administration.

Revision in scope/approved estimate of projects in Category A

HEAD 708 - CAPITAL SUBVENTIONS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

PWSC(96-97)80

8001MJ

United Christian Hospital extension

26. Responding to members questions, the Administration explained that the increase in project cost was mainly due to price fluctuation caused by inflation, since funding submissions for non-Airport Core Programme projects prior to 1995 did not make provisions for adjustments due to inflation. The project estimate approved in 1993 for the re-development of Block P and minor refurbishment of Block G in the United Christian Hospital (UCH) was calculated on a constant price basis with reference to the Tender Price Indices (TPI) for construction and building services works in the fourth quarter of 1990. However, the result of a recent tender exercise indicated that the approved estimate was insufficient to cover the works involved, given the increase in TPI over the years and the projected adjustment due to inflation during the construction period. It was therefore necessary to increase the project estimate by $120 million, i.e. $114.6 million for the re-development of Block P and $5.9 million for the refurbishment of Block G. The extra cost would be offset in part by a saving of $80.2 million under the same project made available by a reduction in construction costs for the works of Blocks B, C, D and S which had been completed.

27. A member asked whether the cost increase could be avoided if the whole project was tendered out at the same time. In reply, the Director of Architectural Services advised that tender exercises were normally carried out nearer the time of the start date to ensure site availability. If a project was tendered out long before construction could start, the contractors would also include adjustments for inflation in the tender price.

28. With regard to the rationale why the consultant fees for this project were revised in line with the increase in construction costs, the Administration advised that the adjustment was based on an earlier consultancy remuneration system adopted since 1988 whereby the fees were calculated as a fixed percentage (9.96%) of the construction costs. There was also an agreement in 1992 that the consultancy fees for project management would be adjusted in line with the Hang Seng Consumer Price Index. As the project under discussion was one of those projects governed by these arrangements, an upward adjustment in consultancy fees was required.

29. The item was voted on and endorsed. The meeting also noted that due to urgency of the project, the item would be put to the Finance Committee for consideration on 10 January 1997.

30. The Committee was adjourned at 12:10 pm.

Legislative Council Secretariat
15 January 1997

Last Updated on 16 August 1999

Public Works Subcommittee

Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18 December 1996 at 10:45 am in the Legislative Council Chamber

Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting
held on Wednesday, 18 December 1996
at 10:45 am in the Legislative Council Chamber