(香港，2022年10月12日) 香港工程師學會(下稱「學會」) 就精簡發展法定程序進行研究，並發表題為「精簡建造及基建發展流程建議書」的報告。

報告基於政府在今年3月向立法會發展事務委員會提交的立法建議，研究如何精簡與發展相關的法定程序。學會肯定政府計劃簡化規劃及發展相關的上游法定程序，但認為建議未有觸及部分下游程序，例如與設計及建造相關的法定和行政程序，而這些程序對發展項目如期落成亦同等重要。

學會作為代表工程業界的專業團體，對於收集業界持份者意見，提供精簡下游發展流程的建議，可謂責無旁貸。報告提出的主要建議如下：

1. 學會建議政府指定一個部門或組織，負責在指定的時限內，集中處理建築及發展項目相關的規劃申請，相關政府部門及公用事業亦須在指定時限回覆規劃申請。

2. 建議在正式申請前增設「法定申請預審」，部門或組織可提供諮詢形式的工作坊，為申請人預先辨識項目的潛在技術問題，以解決問題為原則﹐訂定相關解決方案，以促成各部門的審批及諮詢程序可以同步完成。學會亦期望當局及項目持有人以協作形式，爭取提早獲得批准及竣工驗收流程，尤其是大規模或較複雜的發展項目，盡量減少或避免重新提交申請。

3. 現時取得首次批准後，建築物每一項改動均要再次尋求審批。學會建議只要符合原有核准的設計原則及建造方法，項目持有人可以毋須就每項微小改動尋求審批，唯項目持有人在建築工程完成前，須就相關改動取得最終批准，以作平衡。

4. 鼓勵有關部門除擔任法例監管機構的同時，在不影響質量及安全的大前提下，為整體社會發展利益，擔當「促進者」的角色，在公開公平原則下，為項目發展提供適當意見，以加快流程。

5. 塑造全新的公營房屋建造模式，挑選合適的項目，把相關平整土地、基礎建設及建造房屋工程的設計和建造工序，集中在一個部門進行。

以上建議詳載於學會呈交給當局的2022施政報告建議書，詳情可按此處瀏覽(僅提供英文版)。

鑑於施政報告將於本月19日發表，學會亦向政府提出多項建議，包括檢視投標政策、增加工程專業人手、精簡發展程序、增加土地及房屋供應、發展創新科技、融入大灣區發展，以至交通、教育、可持續及智慧城市發展。意見書的行政摘要如下：

1. 應該杜絕造價顯著偏低的投標，以改善業界生態及吸引下一代的工程界精英，確保工程人才供應可以滿足城市發展帶來的需求。

2. 繼續採取多管齊下的方式解決土地短缺的問題。為了推進交椅洲人工島填海工程，規劃、設計及建造階段均應加快。學會亦期望政府提出基建藍圖，詳列各項土地建議及基建的進度及落成時間表。改劃土地用途及市區重建應視乎不同地區及位置需要而繼續推行。

3. 除了「公屋提前上樓計劃」，學會提倡把公營房屋項目內的政府、機構及社區設施從住宅樓宇中抽出，全面使用「組裝合成」建築法建造公營房屋，以進一步縮短建造時間。學會建議設立組裝合成及預製組件工廠，以應付組裝合成的廣泛使用。為了善用市場力量，當局可以考慮提供更多誘因，吸引承建商參與資助房屋建設。

4. 為了促進創科生態圈發展，當局應檢視資助基金的申請程序及要求，以提升香港的地位及競爭力，擴大人才庫。

5. 大灣區的發展機遇處處，除了加強跨境基建提升與大灣區的連接，當局大力推動兩地專業資格互認亦同樣重要。

6. 針對基建先行的發展概念，學會建議當局考慮本港及鄰近城市的策略性發展，全面審視本港的交通網絡。

7. 當局應及早檢視學校課程及大學入學要求，並加強推廣STEAM教育，回應社會對創科及工程人才與日俱增的需求。

學會期待本月19日公布的施政報告，並期望政府採納學會的建議。

報告全文可於此處瀏覽(僅提供英文版)。

如欲垂詢，請與香港工程師學會傳訊統籌部聯絡。

電話：2895 4446     

傳真：2882 6825     

電郵：corpcom@hkie.org.hk

PDF版

(12 October 2022, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has carried out a study on streamlining statutory processes pertinent to development projects, and is delighted to present the report entitled “Recommendations on Streamlining Building Works and Infrastructure Development Processes”.

The report was prepared in support of the Government’s legislative proposals, set out in a paper delivered in March 2022 to the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council, to streamline development-related statutory processes.  The HKIE acknowledges the efforts expressed therein to simplify the upstream statutory procedures in the planning and development regimes, but considers that the downstream statutory and administrative processes at design and construction stages, which the paper does not discuss, are equally crucial to the timely delivery of development projects.

The HKIE, as a professional body championing engineering excellence, has taken the liberty to study the industry stakeholders’ opinions and offer corresponding suggestions on streamlining the procedures at the downstream ends.  In broad outlines, the major recommendations stated in the report are as follows:

1. An entity should be assigned to act as the centralised processing department for handling and responding to the plan submissions for building and development projects in accordance with a pre-assigned timeframe, which is also to be observed by all the enabling government departments and public utilities.

2. Before formal submissions, a “Draft Statutory Submission Vetting” process, during which consultatory workshops with the Authorities are conducted, is recommended. It would help identify any potential technical issues and facilitate agreement on the principles of resolution, so that the processes of approval and consultation with other departments may proceed simultaneously. A collaborative approach is also proposed, particularly for large-scale or complicated developments, between the project proponents and the Authority to expedite the approval as well as acceptance inspection process with a view to minimising or avoiding resubmissions.

3. Instead of seeking approval for each amendment after the first approval, as is the current practice, project proponents should be spared the need to seek prior approval for minor amendments provided that the original approved design principles and construction methodologies are complied with. For checks and balances, project proponents are required to obtain a final approval for all these amendments before certifying completion of the building works.

4. In discharging their statutory duties, the relevant government officials should act not only as regulators but also as facilitators, though statutory safety and quality requirements should not be compromised. Giving advice in a fair and open manner will eliminate the possibility that the officials will be falsely perceived as offering privileges.

5. A new public housing project delivery model is recommended, according to which the design and construction responsibilities for both site formation/infrastructure works and the building works for suitable chosen sites are vested in one single entity.

The recommendations above have further been incorporated in the HKIE’s submission, recently delivered to the Administration and available here, on the formulation of the 2022 Policy Address.

In anticipation of the Policy Address to be delivered on 19 October 2022, the HKIE also made recommendations to the Administration on reviewing procurement policy, augmenting manpower of the engineering profession, streamlining development processes, boosting land and housing supply, developing innovation and technology capacity, integrating into the Greater Bay Area, transportation, education as well as sustainable and smart development of the city.  The executive summary of our submission is as follows:

1. Significantly low bids from tenderers should be curtailed to improve the ecology of the industry and attract next generations of engineering talents, so that the increasing demands following the city’s development may be met.
2. A multi-pronged approach should continue to be adopted to tackle the shortage of land supply. To take forward the reclamation at the Harbour Metropolis, the planning, design and construction stages are suggested to be fast-tracked.  A detailed infrastructure blueprint specifying key milestones of delivery of land parcels and infrastructure works is also called for. Rezoning and urban renewal projects should be continued, reaping on the advantages of each strategic location.
3. In addition to the Advance Allocation Scheme to be implemented in public rental housing projects, the Institution suggests separating government, institutional and community facilities from residential blocks such that modular integrated construction (MiC) method could be adopted to further compress the construction time. Meanwhile, MiC factories and prefabrication yards shall be set up in line with the increasing application of the construction method. To make full use of the market force, the Administration is suggested to consider offering more incentive to private sectors to support the development of other subsidised housing.
4. To promote the development of innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, the procedures and requirements of the funding application should be scrutinised in order to raise Hong Kong’s status and competitiveness on this front and effectively expand the talent pool.
5. With the vast opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, in addition to the development of infrastructure to enhance connectivity with the area, it is important that the Administration exerts greater effort to foster mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
6. Echoing the idea of infrastructure-led development, we suggest the Administration review the overall transportation networks while taking into consideration the latest strategic development of the city and the neighbouring cities.
7. To respond to the increasing demand for I&T and engineering talents, the Administration needs to review the school curricula and university entry requirements in a timely manner and step up the effort to promote STEAM education.

The HKIE eagerly awaits the delivery of the Policy Address on 19 October 2022 and would appreciate the inclusion therein of any of these recommendations.

The full report is available here.

 For media enquiries, please contact:

Corporate Communications Section

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Tel: 2895 4446

Fax: 2882 6825

Email: corpcom@hkie.org.hk

PDF version