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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing), Mr Thomas Chan Chun-yuen, noted that continuous improvements in construction and maintenance is the key to sustaining a quality lifestyle and pleasant living environment for public rental housing (PRH) residents.
Officiating at the Quality Public Housing Construction and Maintenance Awards 2009 Prize Presentation Ceremony today (December 12), Mr Chan said that the Housing Authority (HA) has been in close partnership with the industry to enhance quality.
"We have introduced a number of measures to ensure good performance of our contractors and to facilitate the building of efficient management systems and quality workforces in the industry. These include the adoption of the Performance Assessment Scoring System and the Quality Reform Action Plan," he said.
The HA has also strived to ensure site safety and timely wage payments to workers. Mr Chan noted that, in 2008, 16.1 injury cases were recorded out of every 1 000 workers, which was lower than the figure for the overall construction industry (61.4 cases per thousand workers), and in a 10-year snapshot compared to the accident rate of 109 in 1999, down by 85%. Furthermore, more than 95% of the workers are receiving their wage payments through auto-pay.
Mr Chan said that by joining hands with stakeholders, HA would further its effort to foster safety culture and protect workers' interests through various measures in the pipeline, and it can definitely create a safer, healthier and more harmonious working environment for all.
"We also seek to create a quality living environment for our tenants, and to foster care and harmony in the community. To this end, we have encouraged our tenants and local groups to partner with us in the design of new estates. Their participation can help us provide facilities that best meet their needs," he said.
At today's ceremony, Mr Chan commended the contractors, sub-contractors and frontline practitioners for their contributions to quality public housing. He urged industry practitioners to continue collaborating with the HA to sustain quality improvements and help improve the living environment of PRH residents.
Jointly organised by the HA and various industry associations, the Awards were classified into two categories, namely New Works Projects and Maintenance Services Projects. Winners were assessed by their performance in terms of work quality, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, ethics and integrity, partnership and customer service.
Receiving the awards were 38 contractors and sub-contractors, 4 outstanding projects, 7 Best Site Safety projects, 6 outstanding Housing Department (HD) project teams, 6 Total Maintenance Scheme practitioners, 10 supervisors and 22 workers.
The co-organising partners are: Hong Kong Construction Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical & Mechanical Contractors Ltd., the Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, the Construction Site Workers General Union, the Hong Kong & Kowloon Electrical Engineering & Appliances Trade Workers Union, the Labour Department, the Construction Industry Council, the Occupational Safety & Health Council and the Vocational Training Council.
Some of the award winners will share their experience on the HA/HD Web Site (www.housingauthority.gov.hk). Industry practitioners and members of the public are welcome to browse the content and share the winners' success stories.
Ends/Saturday, December 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:41
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