For discussion PWSC(96-97)106
on 5 March 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 711 - HOUSING
Education - Primary
B197EP - First primary school in area 102, Tin Shui Wai
B198EP - Second primary school in area 102, Tin Shui Wai
B199EP - Third primary school in area 102, Tin Shui Wai

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of B197EP, B198EP and B199EP to Category A at an estimated total cost of $201.6 million in money-of-the-day prices for the construction of three primary schools in area 102, Tin Shui Wai.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE
JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
LAND ACQUISITION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A comparison of the standard cost of a primary school project with the estimated costs of the proposed school projects

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PROBLEM

There will be a shortfall of 86 primary school classes in school zone 316 (Tin Shui Wai) by the year 2000.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary for Housing, proposes to upgrade the following projects to Category A at an estimated total cost of $201.6 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices -

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. All three proposed primary schools are standard design school buildings. Each school will have -

1. 30 classrooms;
2. four 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;
8. a library;
9. an assembly hall; and
10. ancillary facilities.

JUSTIFICATION

4. At present, there are eight primary schools providing a total of 420 classes for school zone 316 (Tin Shui Wai). The Director of Education forecasts that the demand for primary school classes in this school zone will reach 626 classes in the year 2000. Taking into account the four primary schools that will be completed in Tin Shui Wai by the year 1999, there will still be a shortfall of 86 classes in school zone 316 in the year 2000. We propose to construct three whole-day primary schools in area 102, Tin Shui Wai to be completed by the year 2000 in order to meet the forecast demand.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5. We estimate the capital costs of projects B197EP, B198EP and B199EP to be $68 million, $66.8 million and $66.8 million respectively in MOD prices (see paragraph 6 below), made up as follows -

A comparison of the standard cost of a primary school with the project estimates of these three schools is at the Enclosure.

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

7. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government's forecast of trend labour and construction prices over the period 1997 to 2003. In order to tie in with the overall public housing development programme in area 102, Tin Shui Wai, we will entrust the construction of the three schools to the Housing Authority which will incorporate the piling contracts and building contracts for the schools into the respective piling contract and main contract for Phases 2, 4 and 5 of the housing estate development. The contracts for the school buildings will be tendered on a lump-sum basis with provision for price fluctuation because the contract period will be over 21 months.

8. We estimate the annually recurrent expenditure for each school to be $15.8 million. As the new schools will be aided schools, the individual sponsoring bodies will bear the costs of furniture and equipment, estimated at $2.1 million for each school.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

9. We consulted the Social Services and Publicity Committee of the Yuen Long District Board in November 1996. The Committee supported all these school projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

10. The Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) vetted the Preliminary Environment Reviews (PERs) for projects B197EP, B198EP and B199EP conducted in January 1997. PERs DEP concluded that the road traffic noise impact on the proposed schools will be below the maximum allowable levels stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guideline.

11. For short term construction impacts, we will control noise, dust and site run-off nuisances during construction to comply with established guidelines/standards through the implementation of mitigation measures required in the relevant contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

12. The three proposed projects do not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

13. We upgraded projects B197EP, B198EP and B199EP to Category B in
July 1996.

14. We have completed site investigation works for the projects. We are finalizing the working drawings and tender documents using in-house staff resources. The Director of Housing will start the construction works of projects B197EP and B198EP in September 1997 for completion in October 2000, and project B199EP in July 1997 for completion in December 2000 to tie in with the overall public housing development programme in area 102, Tin Shui Wai.

(HH483)

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Enclosure to PWSC(96-97)106

A comparison of the standard cost of a primary school project with the estimated costs of the proposed school projects

*Assumptions for standard cost

1. No site formation work/geotechnical work is required as this is normally carried out under a separate engineering vote.

2. Piling cost is based on 110 nos. of steel H-piles of an average depth of 30 metres.

3. Cost for drainage and external works is for a standard school site area of 6200 square metres built on a flat site. No diversion of existing utilities or noise mitigation measures are required.

4. No consultancy services are required.

5. Furniture and equipment cost is excluded as it is usually borne by the sponsoring body.

Notes

A. The piling costs for the proposed projects are adjusted to suit individual site conditions and are based on the following -

There is also an increase in piling cost for contracts being tendered on or after 1 April 1997 due to the prohibition of the use of diesel hammers for percussive piling.

B. The drainage and external works costs are higher because D of H will follow standard arrangements to apportion the drainage and external works costs of the gross estate area to the proposed schools.

C. There is a standard arrangement to reserve 2% on cost for projects entrusted to the Housing Authority.

(HH483)

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