******************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
Question:
It has been reported that in recent years, quite a number of items of play equipment for the elderly and children in public housing estates had been left damaged for long periods but the Housing Department (HD) still failed to have them replaced or repaired, thus attracting criticisms from public housing residents. A spokesperson for HD explained that there had been delays in repairing such equipment because it took time to procure the required parts. Meanwhile, as HD upgraded the relevant safety standards last year, some or all of the items of the play equipment in the playgrounds of public housing estates have to be replaced. Such items of play equipment are unavailable for use by public housing residents during the periods when repair and replacement works are in progress. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of enquiries or complaints concerning the replacement of the aforesaid play equipment received by HD in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by District Council district;
(2) of the number of sets of play equipment for which repair or replacement works were carried out by HD in the past five years, and list by equipment (i) the type of equipment, (ii) the housing estate involved, (iii) the type of works (replacement of parts or the entire equipment), (iv) the cost involved, and (v) the commencement date and completion date of works; and among such equipment, of the number of sets of equipment which have to be replaced due to the upgrading of safety standards, and the replacement details;
(3) whether HD has formulated any performance pledge with regard to the time taken for the repair of play equipment; if HD has, of the details, and the percentage of repair works meeting the performance pledge in the total number of repair works carried out in the past five years; if not, whether HD will formulate such a performance pledge; and
(4) of HD's guidelines or means to ensure that contractors will complete the repair works for play equipment as quickly as possible, and whether HD will review such guidelines with a view to improving repair works?
Reply:
President,
My consolidated reply to the various parts of the question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai is as follows:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority has all along been providing suitable recreational facilities in public rental housing (PRH) estates according to their demographic characteristics, with a view to providing leisure spaces for residents.
The Housing Department (HD) puts much effort in the maintenance of play equipment in PRH estates, and is committed to enhancing the safety level of recreational facilities through repair and maintenance works.
In the past five years, HD handled a total of some 3 100 repair works for play equipment, including replacement of in-stock parts (about 41%); and works requiring special orders of parts or major repairs (about 59%). Play equipment in various PRH estates throughout the territory was involved in these repair works, with a total expenditure of about $55 million. HD does not classify repair or replacement works of play equipment into different categories. According to file record, in the past five years, HD received a total of 84 enquiries or complaints about play equipment. However, HD does not compile statistics of such enquiries or complaints by districts based on different District Councils.
Given the large quantity of repair works, it is difficult to list out the commencement and the completion dates of each individual works. For repair works concerning replacement of in-stock parts, contractors are required under the relevant maintenance contracts to complete such works within 28 days. However, such requirement is not applicable to repair works involving replacement of parts that require special order, as it takes time to procure the required parts and the individual parts might have to be shipped from abroad. As for repair works carried in 2014-15, the average works period for repair works concerning replacement of in-stock parts is 23.5 days, while the overall average works period of works of all repair works (including those requiring special orders of parts or major repairs or replacement of entire equipment) is 53.8 days.
Currently, HD arranges independent safety consultants to carry out biennial inspection to all play equipment installed in PRH estates in the territory. Renewal or replacement of parts will be arranged in accordance with the recommendations of the consultants so as to enhance the safety standard of the play equipment and to ensure safety of residents. Since the related replacement works are carried out in the same manner as other maintenance works, HD does not maintain statistics specifically for this type of works.
As the complexity of maintenance works differs and some repair works require special orders of parts, the works period can vary significantly among different works projects. Therefore, we consider it inappropriate to set an overall performance pledge on the works period. However, HD will continue to improve monitoring procedures and enhance contract administration for repair works, so as to enhance the efficiency of maintenance and safety standard.
In order to ensure that the performance of contractors meets the prescribed requirements, HD conducts quarterly reviews on the performance of contractors. For contractors with unsatisfactory performance, HD will take appropriate regulatory measures, including issuing written warning, conducting performance interviews, claiming liquidated damages and suspension of tender submissions.
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:22
NNNN
