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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (September 15) visited Architectural Services Department to gain a better understanding of its work.
Accompanied by the Acting Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Marigold Lau, the Chief Executive toured the Margaret Trench Red Cross School at Ngau Chi Wan.
This is a special school built by the department for use by disabled students. The school was presented with a design Merit Award by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects last year for its "universal accessibility".
School Principal Mr C H Lee and the Architectural Services Department project team pointed out to the Chief Executive the many features designed to facilitate students' mobility and give them confidence to meet the challenges they might face in life. The school management explained the various facilities to foster a happy learning environment for the students.
"I am pleased that the department has successfully built a user-friendly school. The award-winning design signifies the Government's commitment to serving the disadvantaged in the best possible way, and our efforts are recognised by the industry," Mr Tsang said.
"I am also pleased to see that students are learning happily at this school. The devotion of the school management should be acknowledged," he said.
The Chief Executive then visited the department's Repair Call Centre at the APB Centre in Hung Hom. The centre handles about 320,000 calls a year for repairs to 8,000 government buildings and 5,800 government slopes. Partnering with contractors for minor repairs, the Repair Call Centre offers an immediate response to callers from government departments through the use of a computerised system. It has a tracing system to ensure that repairs are followed through by its staff and contractors.
The Chief Executive watched a demonstration on how a repair call was handled. He commended the initiative of the department in making good use of technology, adding that the Repair Call Centre not only ensured that repair work was handled expeditiously and satisfactorily, but also set a good example of successful partnership between the public and private sectors.
Before ending his visit, the Chief Executive met department frontline staff. He praised them for adapting well to the changes arising from the department's Re-engineering Programme which would enable it to outsource 90% of its new projects by 2008-09 and to focus on the more strategic roles of providing professional advice to the Government and in conducting research and development to share with other works departments and enhance industry standards.
"Through the joint efforts of staff under the Re-engineering Programme, the department has been able to operate more efficiently and effectively, enabling it to better serve the community," Mr Tsang said.
Ends/Friday, September 15, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:31
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