For discussion PWSC(97-98)42
on 4 June 1997
ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Support - Others
163GK - Local marine traffic control station at Container Terminal No. 8
Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 163GK to Category A at an estimated cost of $89.8 million in money-of-the-day prices for the construction of a local marine traffic control station at Container Terminal No. 8, Kwai Chung.
PROBLEM
The safety of marine traffic in the Kwai Chung container basin and its approaches cannot be ensured at present because the area is not adequately covered by the radar surveillance of the Vessel Traffic Services System (VTS) operated by the Director of Marine (D of M).
PROPOSAL
2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary for Economic Services, proposes to upgrade 163GK to Category A at an estimated cost of $89.8 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for the construction of a local marine traffic control station (LMTCS) at Container Terminal No. 8 (CT 8), Kwai Chung.
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE
3. The project comprises -
- the construction of an elevated control tower of about 50 metres high to accommodate a control centre providing radar and close circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and associated facilities including an equipment room;
- the construction of a single-storey base structure to accommodate ancillary facilities including a rooms, toilets, maintenance store and a transformer roomswitch room, generator room and fire service pump room; and
- improvement works to the access road to the site.
JUSTIFICATION
4. Marine traffic in Hong Kong waters increased from 192 100 movements in 1986 to 438 300 movements in 1996, representing an annual growth rate of 8.6%. Similarly, the volume of marine traffic at the Kwai Chung container basin and its approaches has grown considerably. The number of container vessels which called at the Kwai Chung container terminals has increased from 4 000 in 1988 to 9 100 in 1996 which represents an annual growth rate of 10.8%. During the same period, the river trade vessel traffic has also grown at a rate of approximately 10% per annum to 112 200 entries to Hong Kong in 1996. The majority of river trade vessels come from the Pearl River delta and sail past the south of Tsing Yi Island and the approaches of the Kwai Chung container basin which adds to the congested marine traffic in the areas. Moreover, we anticipate that marine traffic in this area will continue to grow with the development of Container Terminal 9 by the turn of this century.
5. The Kwai Chung container basin and its approaches are not adequately covered by the nearby VTS radar station at Kau Yi Chau which transmits information on vessel movements to the vessel traffic centre (VTC) at Central, being partly blocked by the Stonecutters Island and the Tsing Yi Island. At present, D of M has to rely on ships pilots to report their departure and arrival schedule to the VTC at Central by radio in order to regulate the berthing and unberthing of container vessels at Kwai Chung and to minimise the risk of collision. This arrangement is inefficient and unreliable as it is practically impossible for D of M to check and monitor whether the ships arrive and depart according to the approved schedule.
6. With the proposed LMTCS which will have radar equipment operating round the clock and supported by a CCTV system, D of M can organise the marine traffic by harmonising the arrival and departure of vessels in the container terminals and monitor water activities in the area to improve marine safety and enforcement of marine regulations. Staff on site will also be able to maintain prompt and direct liaison with container terminal operators so as to manage the marine traffic effectively. A dedicated patrol launch will also help ensure that the container basin and its approach areas are clear for passage. As a consequence of these measures and installations, we will be able to ensure that the berthing and unberthing of container vessels in Kwai Chung is in compliance with the schedule approved by D of M so as to avoid accidents. We will also be able to detect and regulate effectively the movements of ocean going vessels and river trade vessels in the approaches to the Kwai Chung container basin.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
7. We estimate the capital cost of the project to be $89.8 million in MOD prices made up as follows -
|
$ million
|
|
|---|
|
(a) Site formation
|
0.3
|
|
|
(b) Piling
|
9.0
|
|
|
(c) Building
|
23.9
|
|
|
(d) Building services
|
7.2
|
|
|
(e) Drainage and external works
|
11.4
|
|
|
(f) Access road
|
10.7
|
|
|
(g) Furniture and equipment
|
0.7
|
|
|
(h) Consultants fees
|
2.2
|
|
|
(i) Contingencies
|
6.4
_____
|
|
|
Sub-total
|
71.8
|
(at December
1996 prices) |
|
(j) Inflation allowance
|
18.0
_____
|
|
|
Total
|
89.8
_____
|
(in MOD prices)
|
A breakdown by man months of the estimate for consultants' fees is at the Enclosure.
8. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -
|
Year
|
$ million
(Dec 1996)
|
Price
adjustment
factor
|
$ million
(MOD)
|
|---|
|
1997 - 98
|
1.0
|
1.06750
|
1.1 |
|
1998 - 99
|
33.4
|
1.16358
|
38.9 |
|
1999 - 2000
|
20.9
|
1.26830
|
26.5 |
|
2000 - 01
|
12.3
|
1.38244
|
17.0 |
|
2001 - 02
|
4.2
_____
|
1.50686
|
6.3
_____ |
|
71.8
_____
|
|
89.8
_____
|
9. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Governments forecast of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1997 to 2002. the improvement work to the access road. We will tender the works under a fixed-price lump-sum contract because we can clearly define the scope of works in advance and leave little room for uncertainty.
10. We estimate the additional annually recurrent cost arising from this project to be $4.9 million.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
11. The District Officer (Kwai Tsing) consulted the members of Kwai Tsing District Board in January 1996. Members had no objection to the project.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
12. The consultants engaged by D Arch S completed and the Director of Environmental Protection vetted the Preliminary Environmental Review (PER) in February 1996. The PER concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment report was not necessary. We will control dust, noise and site run-off during construction through the implementation of mitigation measures in the relevant contracts.
LAND ACQUISITION
13. The project does not require land acquisition.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
14. We upgraded 163GK to Category B in September 1996. We engaged consultants to carry out pre-contract preparatory work at an estimated cost of $2.44 million and charged this amount to the block allocation Subhead 3100GX "Project feasibility studies, minor investigations and consultancy fees for items in Category D of the Public Works Programme" in November 1996. We plan to start the construction works of the proposed station in January 1998 for completion in April 1999.
15. Apart from the civil works for the project, we will separately seek approval under delegated authority to purchase the necessary radar, communication and associated equipment at an estimated cost of $3.1 million to be charged under Head 708 "Capital Subventions and Major Systems and Equipment" and to purchase a patrol launch at an estimated cost of $7.5 million to be charged to Head 100 Marine Department Subhead 603 Plant, Vehicles and Equipment.
16. We submitted a paper to the Public Works Subcommittee on 21 May 1997 proposing upgrading of 163GK to Category A. The paper was withdrawn in the light of Members queries on the future operation and efficiency of the proposed local marine traffic control station. We have clarified that the project includes the provision of a CCTV system to improve effective monitoring of water activities in the area. This is now reflected in paragraphs 3 and 6 of the paper.
Economic Services Branch
May 1997
(HH508)
Enclosure to PWSC(97-98)42
163GK - Local marine traffic control station at CT8
Breakdown of estimates for consultants fees
|
Consultants staff cost
|
|
Estimated
man
month
|
Average
MPS
salary
point
|
Multiplier
factor
|
Estimated
fees
($ million)
|
|---|
|
(I)Architectural discipline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract administration
|
Professional
Technical
|
4.1
6.1
|
40
16
|
3
3
|
0.68
0.34
_________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-total
|
1.02
_________
|
|
(II) Quantity surveying discipline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract administration
|
Professional
Technical
|
4.6
7.0
|
40
16
|
3
3
|
0.76
0.39
_________
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-total
|
1.15
_________ |
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2.17
_________ |
|
|
|
|
Say
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
_________ |
Notes
- A multiplier factor of 3 is applied to the average MPS point to arrive at the full staff costs including the consultants overheads and profit, as the staff will be employed in the consultants offices. (At 1.4.96, MPS pt. 40 = $55,390 p.m. and MPS pt. 16 = $18,595 p.m.).
- The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Architectural Services. We will only know the actual man months and actual fees when we have selected the consultant through the usual competitive bidding system.
(HH508)
Last Updated on 16 August 1999
