EC(97-98)79
For discussion
on 12 February 1998


ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF
FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 91 - LANDS DEPARTMENT
Subhead 001 Salaries

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the creation of the following supernumerary post for a period of four years and three months with effect from 1 April 1998 -

1 Chief Estate Surveyor
(D1) ($92,650 - $98,300)

PROBLEM

The Director of Lands (D of L) needs to strengthen his directorate support to cope with the land resumption, planning and land administration work associated with the implementation of the Ma On Shan to Tai Wai rail link (MOS Rail) and the extension of the Kowloon-Canton Railway from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST Extension), concurrently with the other high priority railway projects.

PROPOSAL

2. We propose to create one supernumerary post of Chief Estate Surveyor (CES) (D1) for a period of four years and three months with effect from 1 April 1998 in the Railway Development (RD) Section of the Lands Department (Lands D) to handle the increasing workload of the section.

JUSTIFICATION

3. The prompt and timely delivery of land is crucial for the construction of the high priority railway projects. The process is complex and must be carried out in accordance with a strict timetable. The process includes the refinement of railway alignments, assessment of land implications, resolution of objections, completion of statutory procedures, resumption and clearance of sites, licensing of work sites, vesting of railway land, granting of property development rights and settlement of compensation claims.

4. Since its inception in July 1997, the RD Section of the Lands D is responsible for all land related matters arising from Phase I of the West Rail (WR), the Tseung Kwan O Extension (TKE) and the Quarry Bay Congestion Relief Works (QBR). In December 1997, the Executive Council decided to implement the MOS Rail/TST Extension in one package. Following this decision, the three high priority railway projects are now proceeding in parallel under a very tight time frame. The new Railways Ordinance also imposes a statutory period of nine months for the Administration to handle objections from the public to the gazetted railway schemes. These recent developments have placed considerable pressure on the RD Section and in particular its directorate staff. At present, the section is headed by a Government Land Agent (GLA) (D2), supported by one Chief Estate Surveyor (CES) (D1) and one Chief Land Surveyor (CLS) (D1). Given the complexity of their work and wide span of control, it has become impossible for them to cope with the surging workload which is briefly described in the following paragraphs.

Phase 1 of the WR

5. Since late 1997 when the full alignment of Phase I of the WR was gazetted, we have received over 250 objections. As the detailed design of the railway routing and construction methods progresses, the D of L estimates that some 1 400 private lots will need to be resumed, covering around 90 hectares of land across five districts. This also involves the removal of over 500 graves and the resolution of some 220 "fung shui" issues. In addition, the RD Section has to vest land in the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) and process land grants in respect of property development along the WR, the East Rail and the Light Rail.

The TKE

6. We will complete the gazetting of the TKE in stages in early 1998. To ensure timely commencement of construction, the D of L needs to complete all land acquisition work before early 1999 and to expedite land grants in respect of property development. The RD Section is already actively pursuing the resolution of 13 objection cases.

The MOS Rail

7. We envisage that a considerable number of private lots, short term tenancies, Government land allocations, "fung shui" areas, footbridges and graves will be affected by the construction of the MOS Rail. The RD Section will have to assist the KCRC in the refinement of the railway alignment and resolution of objections, carry out resumption and clearances and grant work site licences to the KCRC for construction. The D of L also needs to process land grants in respect of property developments associated with this project expeditiously.

The TST Extension

8. The TST Extension will necessitate the resumption of 2.7 hectares of private land. As the project will be constructed amid a prime commercial area, we expect to face a multiplicity of claims for business loss from some major buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui. Similar to its role in other railway development projects, the RD Section will have to assist in the refinement of the railway alignment and resolution of objections, issue licences to the KCRC for temporary occupation of land for construction and make land available for the reprovisioning of the Government facilities affected.

9. Given these commitments, the D of L has critically reviewed the existing staff resources of the RD Section. He has concluded that the section does not have the capacity to cope with the above work concurrently within the required time frame. While the KCRC will assist in certain non-statutory and administrative work to alleviate workload, there remains resumption work that is statutory and can only be carried out by the Lands D. Operational experience in the past six months has revealed that the massive scale of work arising from the WR and the TKE/QBR has over-stretched the existing GLA and CES. The D of L considers that additional directorate support is essential to alleviate this pressure and to meet new requirements arising from the MOS Rail/TST Extension. We therefore propose the creation of an additional CES post, to be designated as CES/RD2, to head a team of staff to take on all land-related work under the TKE, MOS Rail and TST Extension as well as the long-term land disposal of the WR. Following this, we propose to redesignate the existing CES as CES/RD1 to head another team to take on the land related work and the short-term land disposal of Phase I of WR, as well as the planning of future railway projects. The existing and proposed organisation charts of the RD Section, the job description of the new CES/RD2 and the revised job description of the CES/RD1 are at Enclosures 1 to 4 respectively. In the light of the varying workloads under these projects at the different stages of development, we will review and re-shuffle the project duties of the two CESs as and when required to maximise the benefits of these directorate resources.

10. To align the tenure of the proposed post with the three existing supernumerary directorate posts under the RD Section, we propose to create the CES/RD2 for a period of four years and three months from 1 April 1998 up to 30 June 2002. We will review the further need for these four directorate posts in mid-2001 having regard to the prevailing and projected workload. We will also review the non-directorate manpower requirement of the RD Section as the projects progress.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

11. The additional annual salary cost of this proposal at mid-point is $1,144,200. The full annual average staff cost of the proposal, including salaries and staff on-costs, is $2,122,692. To strengthen the support for the proposed CES/RD2 and the redesignated CES/RD1, the D of L will create 35 non-directorate posts at a total notional annual mid-point salary cost of $12,967,980 and a full annual average staff cost of $19,768,512. We have included sufficient provision in the 1998-99 draft Estimates to meet the cost of this proposal.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

12. On 20 June 1997, Members approved the creation of supernumerary posts of one GLA, one CES and one CLS for a period of five years to lead the RD Section of Lands D to implement the high priority railway projects.

13. On 14 November 1997, Members approved an increase in the ceiling placed on the total notional annual mid-point salary value of the department to permit the creation of 25 non-directorate posts to process land related work for the TKE and QBR projects.

CIVIL SERVICE BUREAU COMMENTS

14. Civil Service Bureau supports the grading and ranking of the proposed post having regard to the responsibilities and professional input required. The Bureau also considers it appropriate to create the post on a supernumerary basis up to 30 June 2002 so that the D of L can review its continued need together with the other three directorate posts in the RD Section.

ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

15. As the post is proposed on a supernumerary basis, we will report its creation, if approved, to the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service in accordance with the agreed procedure.


Transport Bureau
February 1998

Enclosure 3 to EC(97-98) 79

Proposed Job Description for
Chief Estate Surveyor/Railway Development 2 (CES/RD2)

Overall Role and Objective

Responsible to the Government Land Agent/Railway Development for implementing and monitoring all land requirements for Mass Transit Railway Tseung Kwan O Extension (TKE), Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link (MOS Rail) and extension of the Kowloon-Canton Railway from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST Extension) as well as the disposal of land for these projects and property development for Phase I of West Rail (WR).

Major Responsibilities

  1. To monitor the progress of the resumption and clearance programme related to the TKE, MOS Rail and TST Extension.

  2. To supervise directly the hand-over of land to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) and Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) for construction of the projects by means of licences.

  3. To be responsible for the settlement of all claims and handle any Land Tribunal Cases arising from resumption.

  4. To liaise with and supervise any work done by the KCRC as the agent of the Lands Department in connection with non-statutory land resumption functions.

  5. To monitor the progress of the land grant programme for the TKE, MOS Rail and TST Extension as well as Phase I of WR.

  6. To represent the Lands Department at District Boards, their Sub-Committees and other forums to assist in explaining the related land policies and land matters.

  7. To manage a team of professional estate and technical staff in the Railway Development Section.

Enclosure 4 to EC(97-98) 79

Revised Job Description for
Chief Estate Surveyor/Railway Development 1 (CES/RD1)

Overall Role and Objective

Responsible to Government Land Agent/Railway Development for implementing and monitoring all land requirements for Phase I of West Rail (WR) and detailed planning for future railway projects.

Major Responsibilities

  1. To monitor the progress of the resumption and clearance programme related to Phase I of WR.

  2. To supervise directly the hand-over of land to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (the KCRC) for construction of the project by means of licences.

  3. To be responsible for the settlement of all claims and handle any Land Tribunal Cases arising from resumption.

  4. To liaise with and supervise the work done by the KCRC as the agent of the Lands Department responsible for those non-statutory land resumption functions.

  5. To represent the Lands Department at District Boards, their Sub-Committees and other forums to assist in explaining the related land policies and land matters.

  6. To supervise detailed land planning for future railway projects and provide input to consultancies and advice on land matters to other Government departments.

  7. To be responsible for the general administration matters of the Railway Development Section.

  8. To manage a team of professional estate and technical staff in the Railway Development Section