PWSC(97-98)71
For discussion
on 12 November 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS
SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 703 - BUILDINGS
Education - Primary
234EP -Primary school in area 30, Tin Shui Wai
236EP -Primary school in area 3, Tai Po
238EP -Primary school in area 77, Sha Tin
240EP -Primary school at junction of Kiu Kiang Street and Hai Tan Street, Sham Shui Po
242EP -Primary school in Tin Wan, Aberdeen
243EP -Primary school in Tsz Ching Estate Phase 2, Tsz Wan Shan

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 234EP, 236EP, 238EP, 240EP, 242EP and 243EP to Category A at an estimated total cost of $467.5 million in money-of-the-day prices for the construction of six primary schools, one in Tin Shui Wai, one in Tai Po, one in Sha Tin, one in Sham Shui Po, one in Aberdeen and one in Tsz Wan Shan.

PROBLEM

The Director of Education (D of E) forecasts that there will be shortfalls of primary school classes in school zone 316 (Tin Shui Wai), school zone 325 (Tai Po North and Sam Mun Tsai), school zone 328 (Ma On Shan and Shap Sz Heung), school zone 210 (Sham Shui Po) and school zone 109 (Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Deep Water Bay) and school zone 214 (Tsz Wan Shan).

PROPOSAL

2.The Director of Architectural Services (D Arch S), with the support of the Secretary of Education and Manpower, proposes to upgrade the following projects to Category A at an estimated total cost of $467.5 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices -

		Project Estimate $ million (MOD)
(a)234EP-	Primary school in area 30, Tin Shui Wai	69.0
(b)236EP-	Primary school in area 3, Tai Po	80.5
(c)238EP-	Primary school in area 77, Sha Tin	71.1
(d)240EP-	Primary school at junction of Kiu Kiang Street and Hai Tan Street, Sham Shui Po	82.4
(e)242EP-	Primary school in Tin Wan, Aberdeen	87.7
(f)243EP-	Primary school in Tsz Ching Estate Phase 2, Tsz Wan Shan	76.8
Total		467.5

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3.The six proposed primary schools adopt the standard design for primary schools. Each school will have -

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

JUSTIFICATION

4.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school places in school zone 316 (Tin Shui Wai) will reach 501 whole-day classes in 1999. There are at present eight primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 240 whole-day classes. Three new primary schools scheduled for completion in 1999 have already been endorsed by the PWSC¹ previously. The proposed primary school in area 30, Tin Shui Wai will further reduce the shortfall to 141 whole-day classes in 1999.

5.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school places in school zone 325 (Tai Po North and Sam Mun Tsai) will be 428 whole-day classes in 1999. There are at present 13 primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 280 whole-day classes. The proposed primary school can reduce the shortfall from 148 to 118 whole-day classes in 1999.

6.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school places in school zone 328 (Ma On Shan and Shap Sz Heung) will be 382 whole-day classes in 1999. There are at present 11 primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 265 classes. The proposed primary school can reduce the shortfall from 117 to 87 whole-day classes in 1999.

7.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school places in school zone 210 (Shamshuipo) will be 218 whole-day classes in 1999. There are at present five primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 78 whole-day classes. The proposed primary school can reduce the shortfall from 140 to 110 whole-day classes in 1999.

8.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school places in school zone 109 (Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Deep Water Bay) will be 258 whole-day classes in 1999. There are at present eight primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 168 whole-day classes. The proposed primary school can reduce the shortfall from 90 to 60 whole-day classes in 1999.

9.D of E forecasts that the demand for primary school classes in school zone 214 (Tsz Wan Shan) will reach 366 whole-day classes in 2000. There are at present six primary schools in this school zone which can accommodate 156 whole-day classes. The proposed primary school can reduce the shortfall from 210 to 180 whole-day classes in 2000.

10.We are planning to construct more primary schools to meet the remaining shortfalls.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

11.We estimate the capital cost of 234EP, 236EP, 238EP, 240EP, 242EP and 243EP to be $69.0 million, $80.5 million, $71.1 million, $82.4 million, $87.7 million and $76.8 million respectively in MOD prices (see paragraph 12 and 13 below), made up as follows -

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

12.Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure for 234EP, 236EP and 238EP as follows -

13.Subject to approval, we will also phase the expenditure for 240EP, 242EP and 243EP as follows -

14.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. For 243EP, we will entrust the construction works to the Housing Authority (HA) in order to tie in with the overall housing development in Tsz Ching Estate.

15.We estimate the additional annually recurrent expenditure for each school to be $16.4 million. We also estimate the cost of furniture and equipment for each school to be $4.1 million. For 236EP, the Government will bear the cost of furniture and equipment for the school to be operated as a government primary school. As other primary schools will be operated as aided schools, the sponsoring bodies will bear the cost of furniture and equipment for these schools.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

16.We consulted the Social Services and Publicity Committee of the Yuen Long District Board on 234EP in May 1997, the Tai Po Provisional District Board and Shatin Provisional District Board on 236EP and 238EP respectively in November 1997, the Shamshuipo District Board on 240EP in June 1996, the Southern Provisional District Board and the Wong Tai Sin Provisional District Board on 242EP and 243EP respectively in October 1997. They supported the projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

17.The Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) vetted the Preliminary Environmental Reviews (PERs) conducted by consultants of D Arch S and HA on 234EP, 238EP, 240EP and 242EP in November 1996, 236EP and 243EP in February 1997. For 242EP and 243EP, the PERs concluded that the two proposed schools would not be subject to adverse environmental impacts.

18.For 234EP, the PER concluded that with a two-metre high road side noise barrier built along the Tin Ying Road, the impact of road traffic noise to the proposed school would be reduced to within the criteria stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. The Director of Territory Development will include the cost of the road side noise barrier in the Tin Shui Wai Further Development.

19.For 236EP, 238EP and 240EP, the PERs concluded that with the following mitigation measures, the impacts of air quality and traffic noise would be reduced to within the established criteria stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines -

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

20.We will control noise, dust and site run-off nuisances during construction to comply with the established criteria through the implementation of mitigation measures in the relevant contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

21.The six projects do not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

22.We upgraded 234EP, 236EP, 238EP, 240EP, 242EP and 243EP in August 1997 and have since completed site investigations for the six projects. We are finalizing the working drawings and tender documents using in-house staff resources. We plan to start the construction works for 234EP, 236EP, 238EP, 240EP and 242EP in March 1998 for completion in August 1999. For 243EP, HA will start the construction works in March 1998 for completion in August 2000 to tie in with the overall housing development in Tsz Ching Estate.

Education and Manpower Bureau
November 1997

1.Finance Committee approved the upgrading of 227EP to Category A in November 1996. PWSC recommended the upgrading of 228EP and 237EP to Category A at its meeting on 4 November 1997. Finance Committee will consider the recommendations at its meeting on 28 November 1997.

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

3.Type II windows provide additional noise insulation through the use of well-gasketted windows and 8-millimetre thick glass pane.

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Enclosure to PWSC(97-98)71

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 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 128 nos. of steel H-piles at an average depth of 30 metres.

3.Provision for site safety at 2% of the estimated contract sum (excluding contingencies) is included in the building cost.

4.Costs for drainage and external works are for a standard school site area of 6 200 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.For 242EP, $13.4 million is required for site formation and geotechnical works as the site covers a slope.

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

	236EP	240EP	242EP
Type	Steel H-piles	Steel H-piles	Steel H-piles
Number	128	136	135
Depth (metres)	35	45	33

C.For 236EP and 240EP, the building costs are higher because of the provision of insulated windows as a noise mitigation measure.

D.For 236EP and 240EP, the building services costs are higher because of the provision of air-conditioning as a noise mitigation measure.

E.For 236EP and 242EP, the costs for drainage and external works are lower because of smaller site area for each individual school. For 238EP, the costs for drainage and external works are higher because of the provision of a solid perimeter fence wall as a noise abatement measure to project the playground and assembly hall from traffic noise impact from adjacent roads. For 240EP, the costs for drainage and external works are higher because of the provision of a solid perimeter fence wall, the formation of the cul-de-sac and widening of the pavement adjacent to the site. For 243EP, the costs for drainage and external works are higher because the Housing Authority (HA) will apportion the costs for drainage and external works of the gross estate area to the proposed school.

F.For 236EP, $4.1 million is required for the cost of furniture and equipment for the school to be operated as a government primary school.

G.For 243EP, there is a standard arrangement to reserve 2% on-cost for a project entrusted to HA.