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The Government has stepped up the administrative sanction against contractors to enhance the quality of the construction industry and protect the safety and health of workers, the Secretary for Works, Mr Kwong Hon-sang said today (Monday).

"A Panel of Enquiry will be convened if a contractor incurs a serious or fatal incident on sites or commits five safety-related offences in six months," Mr Kwong said.

"This is more stringent than the previous threshold of six convictions within six months for a Panel of Enquiry to be initiated," he said.

The contractors will be required to improve and implement site safety measures to prevent a recurrence when the cause of the accident and the weakness in safety management system are identified in the course of the enquiry.

"This helps to ensure that satisfactory safety performance is an essential requirement for bidding public works contracts," he added.

Mr Kwong was speaking at the 1998 Award Presentation Ceremony for Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme. Contractors of 22 sites, including 17 public works and five private sector sites, won awards.

The scheme was introduced in 1995 and aims to encourage contractors to provide a safe and healthy environment around construction sites and minimise disturbance to their neighbourhood and the public.

By doing so, all public works projects will be delivered successfully not only within the budget and on time, but also in a considerate and safe manner.

Contractors who have worked in the most considerate manner will be awarded in recognition of their achievements in good site management, environmental friendliness, law abidance, safety records, being considerate to the public, such as neighbours and passers-by.

A total of 66 construction sites took part in the 1999 phase of the scheme, an increase of 20 per cent over last year.

End/Monday, March 22, 1999

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