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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The awards presentation ceremony of the 12th Quality Public Housing Construction and Maintenance Awards jointly organised by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and industry associations was held today (November 29) to commend practitioners with outstanding performance.
Aimed at enhancing quality and professionalism in construction and maintenance, the annual event awards contractors, supervisors, project teams and front-line workers with outstanding performance in the HA's projects. They are also encouraged to enhance work quality by applying innovative technologies and creativity in building and maintenance works.
Officiating at the awards presentation ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing), Mr Stanley Ying, said that the HA strives to make good use of every possible site in order to increase housing supply. At the same time, the HA has been deploying innovative technologies to overcome the limitations of sites and make full use of the sites to build flats for public housing applicants, or people hoping to buy their own home through the Home Ownership Scheme.
For older housing estates, the HA is implementing the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme and Total Maintenance Scheme to give the estates an external and internal face-lift and ensure that they are structurally safe. In addition, the Estate Improvement Programme modernises the facilities and environment of housing estates that will not be redeveloped in the next 15 years.
Mr Ying commended the outstanding contractors, supervisors, project teams and front-line workers for their effort. He also encouraged practitioners to work together and embrace the challenges ahead to provide a better living environment for public housing tenants.
This year, a record of more than 160 awards and certificates were awarded. Comprising representatives of the HA and co-organisers, the judging panel made its assessment based on work quality, workmanship, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, ethical integrity, partnering and customer service. In order to further promote work safety and on-the-job training, new awards, namely the Best Site Safety - Safety Innovation Award and the Outstanding Contractor - Training Scheme for Construction Workers, were introduced this year.
Co-organisers of the Awards included the Hong Kong Construction Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, the Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, the Construction Site Workers General Union, the Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Engineering and Appliances Trade Workers Union, the Hong Kong General Union of Lift and Escalator Employees, the Labour Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Council, the Construction Industry Council and the Vocational Training Council.
Information of the awards will be uploaded to the HA/Housing Department website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk). An exhibition featuring the awardees and winning projects will be open to the public at the Resource Centre of the Construction Industry Council at Kowloon Bay from December 13 to 18 (9am to 6pm, closed on Wednesday and Sunday).
Ends/Saturday, November 29, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:15
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