(香港，二零一八年十月十二日) 香港工程師學會 (下稱「學會」) 歡迎行政長官剛發表的《二零一八年施政報告》(下稱「施政報告」)，包括「明日大嶼」願景﹑發展棕地﹑活化工廈﹑提升升降機和扶手電梯安全等多項措施，當中見到不少是肯定學會的建議。
學會認同施政報告積極回應市民最關注的土地房屋議題。在房屋供應方面，學會支持政府撥地協助重建舊屋邨，以增加房屋單位供應，同時公屋長者寬敞戶調遷計劃可更快及針對性地滿足需較長時間輪候大單位的家庭需求。學會亦建議政府可考慮制定相關方案，加強協助香港永久性居民首次置業，以減輕市民的居住成本，特別是讓年輕家庭得到安居，進而謀求更大發展以貢獻香港。在土地供應方面，學會支持施政報告中提及研究開發棕地及重啟工廈活化計劃，善用現有土地資源。
學會樂見政府發展「明日大嶼」的願景，支持馬上展開建造人工島的研究和設計工作，並認同以運輸基建先行為其中一脈發展主軸。就「明日大嶼」及其運輸基建網絡的發展，學會建議政府展開整體運輸策略研究，注入智慧出行的元素，以協調未來城市發展及優化整體交通網絡。學會同時期望政府即將成立「明日大嶼」的專責統籌辦事處能積極諮詢工程及各相關專業團體，以加快落實計劃及開展工程。
學會同意一系列新措施從宜居城市環境方向去改善路邊空氣質素，及歡迎政府鼓勵市民使用新能源車輛的舉措，同時建議政府進一步推行措施以提升電動車的普及程度。為紓緩交通擠塞的情況，學會建議政府引入「用者自付」原則的交通擠塞收費計劃，並將其收入用作改善公共交通，同時盡快制定新鐵路項目的時間表。另外，學會亦支持將所收到的環保徵費用作支持環境保護項目。
就多元經濟方面，學會支持成立「粵港澳大灣區建設督導委員會」，全面統籌參與粵港澳大灣區建設，同時支持香港參與和推進「一帶一路」建設。學會尤其希望政府能夠協助香港專業人士於「一帶一路」及粵港澳大灣區規劃上爭取更多發展機會。
學會支持成立10億元的「建造業創新及科技基金」，鼓勵業界廣泛運用創新科技，大大推動建造業發展，同時在培育本地科研人才﹑加速再工業化﹑進行升降機優化工程等方面投放額外資源，以及有計劃將部門數據公開予公眾參考。我們亦期望政府能進一步向私人項目及重建項目推廣建築信息模型 (BIM) 技術，優化整體的工程項目管理以及往後工程系統設施的高效營運管理。
學會認同施政報告中提及「人才是香港向前邁進的最重要元素，而教育就是培育人才的關鍵」。學會歡迎政府繼續推動STEM (科學、科技、工程及數學) 教育，培養學生對創科的興趣，並促請政府與各持份者合作，吸引年輕人和外地專才加入本地STEM專業，同時密切關注未來工程從業員的人手需求，以配合各項大型工程基建的推展。
學會將致力以工程專業知識向政府提供意見及相關支持，與市民各界一併堅定前行，共同建設美好香港。
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
(12 October 2018, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) welcomes the new initiatives and measures in the 2018 Policy Address of the Chief Executive, such as Lantau Tomorrow Vision, developing brownfield sites, revitalising industrial buildings and enhancing lift and escalator safety, and is pleased to note that many of earlier proposals to the Administration have been affirmed in the strategic plan.
The HKIE agrees to the Administration’s response in the Policy Address on land and housing issues which are of much concern to the public. Regarding housing supply, the HKIE supports the redevelopment of aged estates to increase the supply of housing units. The new initiative of encouraging elderly public housing tenants to move to smaller units can also help shorten the waiting time of public housing for those bigger-sized families. We suggest the Administration to consider introducing relevant policies in enhancing the assistance to Hong Kong permanent residents for their first-time home purchases in order to reduce their cost of living, in particular to support young families solving their housing need so that they could pursue better development to contribute to Hong Kong. As for land supply, the HKIE supports the Administration to explore the feasibility of developing brownfield sites and reactivating the revitalisation scheme for industrial buildings to make effective use of the existing land resources.
The HKIE is pleased to see the Lantau Tomorrow Vision (the Vision) and supports the Administration to immediately commence the study on the construction of artificial islands. We support that one of the key development axles of the Vision is to accord priority to transport infrastructure development. For the Vision and its planning on transport infrastructure development, the Administration is suggested to carry out a comprehensive transport strategy study with inclusion of smart mobility elements so as to coordinate future development of and optimise the overall transportation network. The HKIE expects that the dedicated coordination office to be set up for the Vision will fully engage different professional bodies including the engineering sector to facilitate the implementation of the related plans and projects.
The HKIE agrees a series of new initiatives from the perspective of building an environment of a livable city to improve roadside air quality. We welcome the Administration to promote the use of new energy vehicles and hope that more measures can be introduced to push for the popularity of electric vehicles. To alleviate the traffic congestion problem, the HKIE suggests the Administration to introduce a “user pays principle” congestion charging scheme and work out a timetable for the new railway line projects. The levy from the congestion charging scheme should be used for improving public transport. Also, the levies obtained from relevant environmental protection charging schemes should be diverted to support other environmental protection measures.
For the development of a diversified economy, the HKIE supports the setup of the Steering Committee for the Development of the Greater Bay Area to be responsible for the overall coordination, and agrees Hong Kong to advance full participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. We particularly hope that the Administration can facilitate Hong Kong professionals to strive for opportunities along the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area development.
The HKIE supports the setup of the $1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund to encourage wider adoption of innovative technologies which will largely help promote the industry development. The HKIE also supports the Administration to inject extra resources to nurture local research talents, boost the re-industralisation, expedite lift modernisation, and plan to open up the Government’s data for the public. We propose that the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be promoted to private and redevelopment projects to optimise the overall performance of project management as well as subsequent operations management of systems and facilities.
The HKIE agrees that “talent is the most important element in Hong Kong’s continued development, and education is the key to nurturing talent” as mentioned in the Policy Address. The HKIE is pleased to note that the Administration will continue to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to unleash students’ potentials in innovation and science. We look forward to close collaboration of the Administration with the stakeholders to attract young people and overseas talent to join the STEM profession in Hong Kong. In order to provide sufficient quality manpower to support the upcoming infrastructure development, the Administration is suggested to regularly review the future manpower needs.
The Institution will endeavour to provide advice to the Administration with our engineering expertise to proceed and build a better Hong Kong together.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Corporate Communications Section
Tel: 2895 4446
Fax: 2882 6825
Email: corpcom@hkie.org.hk
（香港，二零一八年九月二十六日）香港工程師學會（下稱「學會」）就《二零一八年政府施政報告》（下稱「施政報告」）諮詢，向政府提出涵蓋土地及房屋供應、STEM（科學、科技、工程及數學）教育、環保及智慧城市等的建議，以保持香港的競爭力及推動未來的長遠發展。學會期望特首於稍後發表的施政報告，能考慮將本意見書的建議納入政府未來的施政方針。
對於與民生息息相關的土地及房屋供應議題，學會樂見政府成立土地供應專責小組，以探求各種解決方案。學會認為長遠而言，填海及發展岩洞和地下空間是增加土地供應的最有效方法。
填海對新市鎮發展起着重要作用，可減少對現有土地使用的影響。學會認為位處大嶼山及香港島之間的中部水域，適合發展人工島以支持東大嶼都會建設。現代工程技術能有效減少填海對環境的負面影響，學會並倡議在規劃時加入生態海岸線的設計。發展岩洞和地下空間能夠提供地下空間予交通及公共設施，政府應該制定相關的長遠及全面政策。
學會促請政府發展棕地，供GIC（政府、機構及社區）用途。學會建議採用公私合營模式，按市場土地成本及招標程序，與發展商及土地擁有者合作開發土地，作為商業/工業/其他設施之用地。具遠見的城市規劃和設計，對釋放寶貴而稀缺的土地資源尤其重要。
城市的重新規劃也是增加土地供應的有效方法，學會支持政府推動更多先導計劃，將閒置用地興建組合屋以提供過渡性房屋，及研究放寬工廈低層用途。
至於在房屋供應方面，學會明白市民負擔居住成本的能力與地價有密切關係。學會建議政府向香港永久性居民提供首次置業方案。
在教育方面，學會期望政府透過促進不同持份者，包括業界、專業團體和本地大學的合作，為STEM教育的推廣提供更多支援及資源。學會亦認為持續進修基金的資助範圍應該擴展至工程及建築相關的課程。
學會同時建議政府增加對推動創新的支持，推廣建築信息模型（BIM）技術於私人項目中的應用，及擴大科技券計劃，涵蓋業界的新興技術。
為推動環境保護，學會倡議將浮動太陽能板發電系統進一步應用到其他沒有海上交通的沿海地區。學會也提議擴大「一換一」計劃的範圍以涵蓋不同類型車輛，以提升電動車的普及程度。除此之外，政府應該為智慧城市藍圖中的「空間數據共享平台」制定相關準則及規範，確保平台能夠有效地推行。
學會歡迎智慧城市的發展，並建議政府於制定下一個十年醫院發展計劃時，加入更多智慧科技元素。學會支持醫院管理局設立大數據分析平台，分享更多醫療數據，推動相關研究。
學會支持樂齡及康復創科應用基金的定期撥款，及擴大香港人才清單的覆蓋範圍，以應付本港市場需求。學會亦建議當局成立高規格的小組，以協助制定長遠的人口政策。
學會將致力向政府提供專業意見，以助各項建議執行。
附錄為意見書之全文(僅供英文版本)。
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
(26 September 2018, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) proposes initiatives to the Administration covering various aspects including land and housing supply, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, environmental protection measures, and Smart City, in order to sustain the competitiveness of Hong Kong and set a pathway towards prosperity for the next generations. The HKIE looks forward to the 2018 Policy Address to be delivered by the Chief Executive soon incorporating the Institution’s proposals into the strategic plan of the Administration.
In particular to the topic of wide public interest relating to the potential options of tackling future land and housing supply challenges, the HKIE is pleased to see the Task Force on Land Supply has been set up to identify solutions. The HKIE considers that reclamation and development of rock cavern and underground space are some of the most efficient methods to boost Hong Kong’s land supply in the long run.
The HKIE considers that reclamation can minimise the impacts on existing land use, and has been an important means in new town development. The Central Waters between Lantau and Hong Kong Island are considered suitable for developing artificial islands for the East Lantau Metropolis. Modern engineering technologies can better manage and minimise the environmental impact of reclamation, particularly when the design of eco-shorelines is taken into consideration at the project planning. While the development of rock cavern and underground space has been significant for providing space for underground transportation and public facilities for years, a holistic and long-term plan for its wider application is considered necessary.
The HKIE urges the Administration to develop brownfield sites for GIC (Government, Institution or Community) usage. As for proposals of developments of commercial, industrial and other facilities from developers and land owners, a form of public-private partnership arrangement in regard to the market land cost and tender process is considered favourable. A visionary urban planning and design is also crucial to releasing land resources.
Urban regeneration could be a constructive measure for land supply. The HKIE supports more pilot projects of pre-fabricated modular housing on idle sites for building transitional housing, and urges the Administration to study on the feasibility of converting lower floors of industrial buildings for non-industrial purposes.
With regard to housing supply, the HKIE views that affordability of housing essentially lies in land price. The HKIE proposes to introduce a solution for the first and an only one-off opportunity purchase for Hong Kong permanent residents.
In the area of education, the HKIE looks forward to the reinforcement of STEM education through fostering collaboration among stakeholders to provide support and materials. The HKIE is also of the view that the range of courses covered under the Continuing Education Fund could be expanded to include courses relating to engineering and construction industry.
The HKIE also proposes the Administration to increase support to innovation, promote the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in private projects, and to consider extending the scope of Technology Voucher Programme to cover emerging technologies for the industry.
To enhance initiatives for protecting the environment, the HKIE suggests the extension of the scope of trial of floating photovoltaic systems to coastal area without marine traffic. The HKIE proposes to extend the provision of the “One-for-One Replacement” Scheme to cover different types of vehicles to push for the popularity of electric vehicles. In addition, the Administration is recommended to develop a set of data exchange standards to ensure efficient implementation of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Smart City Blueprint.
The HKIE welcomes the adoption of a smart city approach, and suggests the Administration to explore wider application of smart health technologies when formulating the next 10-year hospital development plan. The HKIE also supports the new initiative of setting up a Big Data Analytics Platform in opening up data of the Hospital Authority to facilitate relevant researches.
The HKIE supports the Administration to consider regularising the newly introduced fund under the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care, and extend the Talent List to include experts in other professional fields upon reviewing the long-term demand of various skill sets that Hong Kong may lack. The set-up of a high-level entity for the planning of human resources would be favourable.
The HKIE is prepared to provide our professional views to the Administration for the implementation of the initiatives.
The full submissions can be found in the Appendix.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Corporate Communications Section
Tel: 2895 4446
Fax: 2882 6825
Email: corpcom@hkie.org.hk
(24 September 2018, Hong Kong) In response to the recent public concerns on ground and structures settlements, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) expresses its professional views on the issue as follows: -
Causes of Ground Settlement
With ever-growing population, the need for housing and accommodation as well as infrastructure facilities continues to grow which demands more developments and construction works in Hong Kong. These construction activities will inevitably induce soil or underground disturbance to the adjacent ground and buildings in particular for sites underlain by soft marine deposits and weak fill layers.
Pile and raft foundation construction are conventional systems to support building structures. Excavation and lateral support works (ELS works) is normally called for in the construction of pile caps, basement, underground drainage and tunnel works.
In response to various ground and site conditions, professional civil/structural/geotechnical engineers will develop a most suitable foundation and works to limit the induced settlement and possible disturbance to the adjacent ground/structures so as to ensure public safety.
Statutory Control
The Buildings Department (BD) has established a stringent controlling system under the Buildings Ordinance for foundation and basement works to ensure safety of the buildings/structures and the public.
A series of Practice Note and Code of Practice stipulate the settlement limits for piling and excavation works have been promulgated to the registered professionals (i.e. Authorised Person/Registered Structural Engineer/Registered Geotechnical Engineer under the Buildings Ordinance) and the building industry for reference and to follow.
Prior to commencement of site works, a comprehensive instrumentation and monitoring plan with a set of Alert, Alarm and Action (AAA) values shall be proposed by the project registered professionals to form a mechanism for controlling site activities with regular review of the site situations.
For general case with no sensitive adjacent buildings, structures and services, the ground settlement limit of 25mm will be adopted as generic figure for the Action level.
The project registered professionals will submit an investigation report regarding the excessive settlement issue together with technical justifications for higher ground settlement limits with respect to the insitu ground conditions, existing structural forms and conditions of adjacent buildings, existing utilities and services for subsequent construction works for BD’s approval.
For developments within the Railway Protection areas, the practice note issued by BD has stipulated certain settlement and movement limitations. However, these figures are only generic values and do not imply the railway related structures will be adversely affected.
In case the settlement is to be exceeded or has been exceeded, the registered professionals shall submit an investigation report and design checking for the existing MTR structures to support their request for relaxation of settlement limits. BD and MTRCL-Railway Protection Section will review the submission for approval if structural, railway and public safety can be justified.
Engineer’s Assessment of Ground Settlement Limit
The ground settlement limit of 25mm as described above is of general case. Different structures and services will have different tolerance level in accommodating movements.
For the case where there is nearby listed heritage or pre-war buildings, the tolerable ground settlement limited shall become more stringent to much less than 25mm, or even as low as 5mm. There is no single figure on tolerable ground and buildings settlement for all types of design and construction. The acceptable ground and structure settlement limits should be assessed on case by case basis according to different project requirements, site and existing structures’ conditions.
Similar assessment shall also be conducted by the registered professionals to protect the utilities around construction site from damages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, construction works will inevitably induce certain amount of soil or underground disturbance. While there is a set of general guidelines for the consideration of Engineers on the tolerable ground settlement in their design, Government Authorities have set up stringent controlling mechanism to ensure building and public safety would not be compromised by any developments and/or construction works.
Tolerable ground and building settlement limit is not any single figure which can be universally applicable to all design and construction, but shall vary case by case and should be reviewed and agreed by the Government Authorities (and/or the MTRCL – Rail Protection Section) upon to meet specific criteria of individual projects and works.
The HKIE has jointly organised with the Faculty of Engineering of The University of Hong Kong a public seminar titled “The Mystery of Ground Settlement” at 6:00 – 7:00 pm at the Lecture Theatre A, Chow Yei Ching Building, The University of Hong Kong on 26 September 2018.
We hope this seminar can further explain the meaning and essence of ground settlement to the general public.
Attachment:
Poster of “The Mystery of Ground Settlement” / 公開講座：「沉降之謎」海報
View video:
公開講座：「沉降之謎」
Video from Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong
All information and views expressed by speakers and in their presentation materials do not reflect the official opinion and position of the HKIE. No responsibility is accepted by the HKIE for such information and views including their accuracy, correctness and veracity.
(香港，二零一八年九月十三日) 香港工程師學會（下稱「學會」）留意到在強颱風「飛燕」導致日本關西機場兩條跑道嚴重水浸後，社會關注赤鱲角香港國際機場的沉降及於惡劣天氣後水浸的可能性。
關西機場由兩個人工島組成，總面積約1,050公頃，於水深大概18至20米的海域建造，海床下面有數十層不同地質年齡的海洋黏土和沙土，總厚度近400米。這些由海洋環境沉澱而成的海洋土層，土質硬度比較低，若受壓力會被壓縮導致沉降。加上由於大阪灣水深達18-20米，需要大量填土來製造人工島，人工島總共耗用4億3千萬立方米的填土，龐大重量令海洋土層承受巨大的壓力，令土層受到壓力之下壓縮而導致沉降。第一個人工島上的跑道於1994年啟用，第二個人工島上的跑道於2007年啟用。有學術文獻指出，直至2012年底，第一個人工島和第二個人工島分別累積沉降超過12米及14米。由此可見，關西機場嚴重的沉降問題是由於填土壓力以及非常獨特的地質環境所造成的。
同樣由填海造成的赤鱲角香港國際機場，採用傳統稱之為「浚挖式填海」方法，填海範圍約 938公頃，海水深度大約為5米。雖然海床表面同樣有土質比較軟的海洋淤泥，但在正式填海前，這些淤泥已被挖走以減低長遠沉降的程度。這些淤泥底部是一層10至30米相對較堅固的沖積土層；冲積土層以下是堅硬的花崗岩及其風化物，根據這些地質條件及填海方法，香港國際機場人工島的沉降幅度會遠遠低於關西機場，類似的沉降情況亦不會出現，或對機場正常運作構成任何影響。事實上，香港百多年來通過填海工程增加土地供應，多項大型工程如啟德機場和葵涌貨櫃碼頭等亦建基於填海範圍，歷經不少惡劣天氣情況，亦未有出現類似關西機場的沉降情況。
至於正在興建的第三條跑道，因為環境保護理由採用了「非浚挖式填海」方法，此方法能避免浚挖及傾倒淤泥、減少使用回填物料及沉積物懸浮量，從而減低對環境及水質的影響，維護海洋生態。為了減少因不挖走淤泥而可能導致的沉降，工程採用一種名為「深層水泥拌合法」的技術，於填海之前，大量水泥會被拌合入淤泥層之中，令加固後的淤泥能夠有足夠的承載力，有效減少填海期間沉降及長遠出現的剩餘沉降。
赤鱲角香港國際機場與關西機場無論在海洋與地質環境，以及填海方法兩方面都有相異之處，因此兩地的沉降情況截然不同。
學會一直致力推動工程專業，以專業知識及技術建設香港，與市民共創未來。
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
(香港，二零一八年九月四日) 香港工程師學會 (下稱「學會」) 就土地供應策略向土地供應專責小組及立法會發展事務委員會提交意見書。
學會一直倡議提升市民生活質素及可持續發展，我們支持以多管齊下的方式增加土地供應。
學會支持填海，並認為填海能增加大片土地。相比其他土地供應方案，填海對現行土地用途影響較少。我們認為現代工程技術可以減少填海工程對環境的負面影響。學會支持政府對具備潛力的近岸填海地點進行規劃和工程研究，並探索其他可能的填海地點。學會認同在大嶼山與香港島之間興建中部水域人工島，深具發展成為東大嶼都會的潛力，這對香港未來的發展和長遠策略性增長至關重要。
學會亦支持發展岩洞及地下空間以釋出市區土地。有見政府已完成「岩洞發展長遠策略–可行性研究」，學會建議有關部門盡快制訂計劃及把研究成果付諸實行。
就短中期而言，學會支持發展棕地及加強活化舊區。在推展市區重建之餘，學會期望社區的獨特性和特色能夠於重建計劃中得以保留。
學會支持政府增加額外土地儲備以應付未來各種發展需要，並制定藍圖和可實行的土地供應目標。
有關意見書已上載至香港工程師學會網站：http://hkie.org.hk/en/news/opinion/
如欲垂詢，請與香港工程師學會傳訊統籌部聯絡。
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(4 September 2018, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has submitted our views on land supply strategy to the Task Force on Land Supply and the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council.
The HKIE advocates for developing Hong Kong under the aims of enhancing the living quality and livelihood of the citizens as well as facilitating sustainable development. We stress our support for adopting a multi-pronged approach for land supply.
The HKIE supports reclamation and considers that reclamation is an efficient method to generate few large pieces of new land. Compared to other land supply options, reclamation can minimise the impacts on existing land use. We consider that modern engineering technologies could help minimise negative impacts from reclamation to the environment.
The HKIE supports the Administration to proceed in carrying out detailed planning and engineering studies for reclamation on identified suitable sites and exploring other potential reclamation sites. In particular, the HKIE agrees the development potential for artificial islands in the Central Waters between Lantau and Hong Kong Island for developing the East Lantau Metropolis is crucial for Hong Kong’s future development and long-term strategic growth.
The HKIE also considers that developing rock caverns and underground space development can create/ release land in the developed areas. Noting that the Administration has completed the “Long-term Strategy for Cavern Development – Feasibility Study”, the Institution suggests the Administration to formulate action plans and put the study findings into implementation in a timely manner.
In short-to-medium term, the Institution supports developing existing under-utilised brownfield sites and stepping up effective measures to rejuvenate the old districts. Along the urban renewal initiatives, the HKIE considers that the uniqueness and characteristics of the urban districts should be preserved.
The HKIE supports the Administration to pursue extra land reserves to meet various demands in future, as well as to develop a visionary blueprint and an attainable target for land supply.
The Submission is available on the HKIE website at:
http://hkie.org.hk/en/news/opinion/
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Corporate Communications Section
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