Speech by Secretary for the Treasury

************************************

Following is a speech by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong, at the opening ceremony of the North Point Government Offices today (Saturday):

I am honoured and pleased to officiate at the opening of the North Point Government Offices. Let me begin by offering my congratulations to all who have worked hard to deliver this splendid building. My appreciation goes to the architect and project team of the Shui On Construction Company Limited. They have produced a balanced, dignified and purposeful design, and met all user requirements within a tight time-frame. I must also thank the Architectural Services Department for implementing the "design and build" approach to good effect.

The completion of this building marks another milestone in the Government's on-going efforts to improve accommodation standards and consolidate its stock of offices. We seek, through this process, to facilitate the release of valuable sites for redevelopment, to reduce the reliance on commercial leasing and to increase efficiency and productivity through improvements in the working environment. For example, the relocation of the headquarters of the Government Supplies Department to this building will release the present Oil Street site for redevelopment by the private sector. The move of the Lands and Planning Departments to this new home will make available space at Murray Building for much needed expansion and consolidation by bureaux in the Government Secretariat. The relocation of various departments from leased premises to this government owned building will save over $100 million a year in rental. And the design adopted for the Civil Service Training and Development Institute allow the trainees to reach the Institute directly without having to wait for lifts.

Government accommodation goes beyond offices. Indeed, most of the existing stand-alone public facilities like community halls, clinics, markets, recreational facilities and welfare service centres occupy valuable land, often in prime built-up areas. Many of them may be considered old and lacking in modern amenities and in need of replacement. We can contribute in a modest way by incorporating certain facilities in our new office projects. The new Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, due for completion in late 1999, will include a clinic and a child care centre, with special design to ensure that these ancillary uses will not detract from the main character of the office building itself. The rewards are many-fold: we will be able to provide modern clinic and child care facilities and we will release the site which would otherwise be required for clinic and child care centre. We have therefore decided to step up our work in this direction. The Government Property Administrator will review all existing GIC sites and work with concerned departments to come up with specific short term and long term redevelopment proposals to better meet our present day needs and to fully utilise the valuable land reserved for GIC use.

The opening of the building we are witnessing today is a fine example of what careful planning, hand work and imagination can achieve. I am glad to say that a good foundation has been laid and I look forward to further substantial success from this initiative in the future.

Thank you.

End/Saturday, April 4, 1998

NNNN