For discussion PWSC(97-98)58
on 4 November 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Education - Secondary
212ES - Secondary school in Heng Fa Chuen, Hong Kong
222ES Second secondary school in area 16, Tuen Mun

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 212ES and 222ES to Category A at an estimated cost of $173.9 million in money-of-the-day prices for the construction of two secondary schools, one in Heng Fa Chuen and one in Tuen Mun.

PROBLEM

The Director of Education (D of E) forecasts that there will be a shortfall of 123 secondary school classes in the territory by 1999.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary for Education and Manpower, proposes to upgrade the following projects to Category A at an estimated cost of $173.9 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices -

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The proposed schools are standard design school buildings. Each school will have -

1. 30 classrooms;
2. 15 special rooms;
3. three remedial teaching rooms;
4. a guidance activity/interview room;
5. two interview rooms;
6. five staff rooms and a staff common room;
7. a student activity centre;
8. a library;
9. an assembly hall; and
10. ancillary facilities.

JUSTIFICATION

4. D of E forecasts that there will be a shortfall of 123 classes in the territory by 1999. In order to reduce the projected shortfall of secondary school classes and to phase out floating classes at Secondary One to Five by 2000 in accordance with the Government policy, we propose to construct two secondary schools, one in Heng Fa Chuen and one in Tuen Mun. We are planning to construct more schools in the territory to meet the remaining shortfall.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5. We estimate the capital costs of 212ES and 222ES to be $81.7 million and $92.2 million respectively in MOD prices, made up as follows -

A comparison of the standard cost of a secondary school with the project estimates of these two projects is at the Enclosure.

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

7. We have derived the MOD estimates on the basis of the Government's forecast of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1997 to 2002. We will tender the works under fixed price lump-sum contracts because we can clearly define the scope of works in advance, leaving little room for uncertainty.

8. We estimate the additional annually recurrent expenditure for each school to be $33.5 million. As the new schools will be operated as aided schools, the individual sponsoring body will bear the cost of furniture and equipment, estimated at $6.8 million for each school.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

9. We consulted the Eastern District Board on 212ES in December 1996 and Tuen Mun District Board on 222ES in March 1997. They supported the projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

10. The consultants engaged by D Arch S carried out Preliminary Environmental Reviews (PERs) on 212ES and 222ES in February 1997 and December 1996 respectively. The Director of Environmental Protection vetted the PERs and concluded that no Environmental Impact Assessment was necessary. The PERs concluded that, with the provision of the following mitigation measures, the impact of road traffic noise on the two proposed schools would be reduced within the criteria stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines -

We have included the cost of these mitigation measures in the project estimates.

11. We will control noise, dust and site run-off during construction to comply with the established standards and guidelines through the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures in the relevant contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

12. The two projects do not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

13. We upgraded 212ES and 222ES to Category B in September 1996 and May 1997 respectively. We have completed site investigations for the two projects. We are finalising the working drawings and tender documents using in-house staff resources. We plan to start the construction works for 212ES in January 1998 and 222ES in June 1998 for completion in August 1999 and December 1999 respectively.

Education and Manpower Bureau
October 1997

1Type I windows provide additional noise insulation through the use of well-gasketted windows and 6-millimetre thick glass pane.

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Enclosure to PWSC(97-98)58

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

*Assumptions for standard cost

1. No site formation work/geotechnical work is required as it is normally carried out by other government departments under a separate engineering vote before the handing-over of the project site.

2. Piling cost is based on 138 nos. of steel H-piles of an average depth of 30 metres.

3. Provision for the site safety measures of 2% of the estimated contract sum (which does not attract contingencies) is included in the building cost.

4. Costs for drainage and external works are for a standard school site area of 6 950 square metres built on a flat site. No diversion of existing utilities or noise mitigation measures are required.

5. No consultancy services are required.

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

Notes

A. Piling costs for the proposed schools are adjusted to suit individual site condition and are based on the use of the following -

B. For 222ES, the building cost is higher because of the provision of insulated windows as a noise mitigation measure.

C. For 222ES, the building services cost is higher because of the provision of air-conditioning as a noise mitigation measure.

D. For 212ES, the costs for drainage and external works are higher due to additional underground sewerage installation work outside site boundaries and additional site clearance requirements. For 222ES, the costs for drainage and external works are lower due to a smaller than standard site area.