For discussion PWSC(97-98)28
on 21 May 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 711 - HOUSING
Territory Development
Civil Engineering - Land development

554CL - Tin Shui Wai further development - engineering works for priority
site developments : consultants’ fees and site investigation

555CL - Tin Shui Wai further development - remaining works for Reserve
Zone developments : consultants’ fees and site investigation

    Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 554CL and 555CL to Category A as a single new item, entitled "Tin Shui Wai further development - engineering infrastructure and remaining site formation works : consultants’ fees and site investigation", at an estimated cost of $69.7 million in money-of-the-day prices.



PROBLEM

For the further development of Tin Shui Wai (TSW) to provide additional housing supply, we need to carry out site investigations, detailed design work on engineering infrastructure and the remaining site formation works.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Territory Development (DTD), with the support of the Secretary for Housing, proposes to upgrade 554CL and 555CL to Category A as a single new item at an estimated cost of $69.7 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for site investigations and the engagement of consultants to undertake the detailed design of the remaining site formation works in the TSW Reserve Zone and the engineering infrastructure for the development of the Reserve Zone and areas 3, 30 and 31 of the Development Zone (see paragraph 18 below).

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The scope of the project comprises -

  1. site investigation works;

  2. detailed design of the proposed engineering infrastructure and remaining site formation; and

  3. preparation of tender documents and assessment of tenders.

JUSTIFICATION

4. The Administration decided in 1994 to further develop TSW as a major area for additional housing supply. In this regard, we have designated about 23 hectares of land in areas 3, 30 and 31 in the TSW Development Zone and about 70 hectares of land (out of a total land area of 213 hectares) in the TSW Reserve Zone (land to the north of the Development Zone) for further development into residential areas. Upon full development, these areas will accommodate about 55 000 housing units for a population of about 170 000 people.

5. In order to cater for the proposed additional developments in Tin Shui Wai, we need to complete the remaining site formation works in area 109 and areas 112 to 123 in the Reserve Zone1 . In addition, we need to provide the necessary engineering infrastructure in stages and in step with the phased completion of the building development.

1 The site formation works in areas 101 to 108, 109(part), 110 and 111 in the Reserve Zone are included in 550CL. The PWSC paper on 550CL, PWSC(97-98)24, is to be discussed on 21 May 1997.

6. The Director of Housing (D of H) commenced the piling work in areas 3, 30 and 31 of the TSW Development Zone in August 1996 with a view to completing the public housing construction by October 1999. D of H also plans to complete the construction works for public housing in area 102 of the Reserve Zone by October 2000, followed by completion in other areas by September 2001. Sites earmarked for sandwich class or private housing development will be disposed of in the coming two years. In order to meet the building development programme, we need to start the detailed design of the proposed remaining site formation and engineering infrastructure in September 1997 for construction works to proceed in phases commencing in October 1998.

7. Due to insufficient in-house resources, DTD proposes to engage consultants to supervise the site investigation works and to carry out the detailed design work.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

8. We estimate the capital cost of the project to be $69.7 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 9 below), made up as follows -



$ million


(a) Site investigations


9.8


(b) Consultants’ fees


41.2


(i) detailed design

34.4



(ii) preparation of tender documents and assessment of tenders

4.6



(iii) supervision of site investigations

2.2



(c) Contingencies


5.1
_____

Sub-total


56.1
_____

(at December
1996 prices)

(d) Inflation allowance


13.6
_____

Total


69.7
_____

(in MOD prices)

A breakdown by man months of the estimate for consultants’ fees is at the Enclosure.

9. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -

Year

$ million
(Dec 1996)

Price
adjustment
factor

$ million
(MOD)

1997 - 98

6.6

1.06750

7.0

1998 - 99

24.8

1.16358

28.9

1999 - 2000

9.7

1.26830

12.3

2000 - 01

8.2

1.38244

11.3

2001 - 02

6.8
_____

1.50686

10.2
_____


56.1
_____


69.7
>_____

10. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government’s forecast of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1997 to 2002. We will award the proposed consultancy on a lump-sum basis with provision for inflation adjustment because the consultancy period will exceed 12 months.

11. The proposed consultancy has no recurrent financial implications.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

12. We consulted the Transport and Traffic Committee and the Environmental Improvement Committee of the Yuen Long District Board on 7 January 1997 and 23 January 1997 respectively on the proposed engineering works and environmental impact mitigation measures 2. Members had no objection to the proposed works. However, some Members requested the Administration to provide concrete lining to the full length of the proposed western drainage channel extension in order to reduce the odour. Some other Members also requested that we provide noise barriers along the full stretch of Tin Ying Road to mitigate the traffic noise impact. They requested that their views be brought to the attention of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) when it considered the full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study report for the further development of Tin Shui Wai.

2 An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the further development in Tin Shui Wai was conducted under 551CL. The study report recommended some environmental impac mitigation measures for the proposed works.

13. On 21 April 1997, we consulted the ACE on the full EIA report and presented the views of the Yuen Long District Board Members. The ACE endorsed the EIA report and agreed with the Administration’s recommendations in respect of the western temporary channel and Tin Ying Road.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

14. The proposed consultancy will have no adverse environmental implications. The consultancy will review the findings and recommendations of the EIA study. We will incorporate environmental impact mitigation requirements into the detailed design and relevant works contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

15. The proposed consultancy does not require land acquisition.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

16. We upgraded 554CL and 555CL to Category B in January 1997.

17. We engaged consultants in November 1995 under 551CL "Tin Shui Wai further development - engineering investigations" to carry out a study to define the public works that are required to support the proposed housing development. The study has ascertained the engineering feasibility of the project and defined the scope and programme of the engineering works.

18. The proposed remaining site formation works in the TSW Reserve Zone and the engineering infrastructure works for the TSW further development in the Reserve Zone and in areas 3, 30 and 31 of the Development Zone will include the following principal elements -

  1. site formation in areas 109 (part) and 112 to 123 in the Reserve Zone and construction of the associated wetland;

  2. construction of nine vehicular bridges, six footbridges and six subways;

  3. widening of the existing Tin Wah Road, Tin Ying Road and part of Tin Tsz Road (between Tin Wah Road and Tin Cheung Road) to dual two-lane carriageways;

  4. widening of part of the existing Long Tin Road and Hung Tin Road (each about 700 metres in length) and reconstructing Tin Tsz Road (about 800 metres in length);

  5. upgrading of 18 existing road junctions in the Development Zone;

  6. construction of about 254 000 square metres of carriageway, footway, cycle track and LRT reserve;

  7. construction of low-noise road surfacing and noise barriers; and

  8. construction of the associated drainage and sewerage works.

19. We plan to start the detailed design for the proposed engineering works in September 1997 for completion by year 2001. During this four-year period, the consultants will help resolve the interfacing problems with other concurrent housing and building works in the Reserve Zone and the KCRC’s LRT extension works. They will also assist the Administration to deal with administrative and statutory issues such as public consultation, gazetting and resolution of objections that we may receive under statutory procedures. Subject to funding, we will commence the construction of the proposed engineering works in October 1998. The programme for the detailed design and the construction programme will tie in with the overall building programme for the TSW further development. We plan to complete the construction of the proposed engineering works by late 2003.

Housing Branch
May 1997
(JJ182)


Enclosure to PWSC(97-98)28

554CL - Tin Shui Wai further development - engineering works for priority site developments : consultants’ fees and site investigation
555CL - Tin Shui Wai further development - remaining works for Reserve Zone developments : consultants’ fees and site investigation

Breakdown of the estimate for consultants’ fees

Consultants’ staff costs


Estimated man months

Average MPS salary point

Multiplier factor

Estimated fees
($ million)

(a) Detailed design

Professional
Technical

137
208

40
16

3.0
3.0

22.8
11.6

(b) Preparation of tender documents and assessment of tenders

Professional
Technical

18
29

40
16

3.0
3.0

3.0
1.6

(c)Supervision of site investigation

Professional
Technical

6
21

40
16

3.0
3.0

1.0
1.2
____

Total consultants’ staff costs



41.2

MPS = Master Pay Scale

Notes

  1. A multiplier factor of 3 is applied to the average MPS point to arrive at the full staff costs including the consultants’ overheads and profit, as the staff will be employed in the consultants’ offices. (At 1.4.96, MPS pt. 40 = $55,390 p.m. and MPS pt. 16 = $18,595 p.m.)

  2. The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Territory Development. We will only know the actual man months and fees when we have selected the consultants through the normal competitive system.

(JJ182)


Last Updated on 16 August 1999