The Architectural Services Department acts as the Government's architect in providing full professional, technical and financial management services for the development and maintenance of public buildings (other than public housing) in three main areas:—

    In January, the Government announced a plan for the re-engineering of the department. Under the plan, the department will focus on its strategic roles as the building authority for and steward of government buildings, and as the Government's corporate professional adviser on architectural policies, building planning and maintenance matters. The bulk of the building and maintenance works currently undertaken by the department will be gradually outsourced to the private sector. During the year, the level of outsourcing of new projects increased from 35 per cent in 2001 to 52 per cent.

    In 2002, the actual expenditure on building projects undertaken or monitored by the department was $10.53 billion, with a further expenditure of $1.71 billion on routine maintenance and minor alteration works. The building projects undertaken by the department were in the following categories:—

Education

The construction of 22 schools was completed in 2002, and work on 26 schools commenced during the year. The department has completed improvements to 390 schools in recent years, including 22 schools in 2002. Improvement work at another 168 schools also commenced during the year.

    Under the arrangement that allows schools to pool land resources for enhanced sports and parking facilities which would otherwise not be available to schools individually, a total of 10 such schools with shared facilities was completed. The largest of these shared facility campuses is the School Village at Diamond Hill where, in addition to parking, there are running tracks, a mini-soccer field, all-weather basketball courts, a jogging track and covered spectator stands. These facilities serve three primary schools and one secondary school.

    In undertaking school projects, the department has developed measures to enhance efficiency in project delivery and to improve the environment. It employed 'System-build' precast construction and metal formwork in the construction of new schools, resulting in a reduction of construction wastes and enhancement in the quality of work. Fresh air pre-conditioners, which are heat exchangers recovering energy from exhaust air to pre-treat intake fresh air, are installed in air-conditioned classrooms to provide a desirable air quality supply and to enhance the energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system.

Disciplined Services

The Tai Chik Sha Fire Station and Ambulance Depot at Tseung Kwan O, and the Redevelopment of Tai Lam Correctional Institution were completed during the year.

    Construction was in progress on the Fire Station and Ambulance Depots in Tin Shui Wai, Sha Tau Kok and Braemar Hill; Phase III redevelopment of the Police Headquarters at Arsenal Street, Wan Chai; and the Police Dog Unit and Force Search Unit complex at Sha Ling in the New Territories.

    Preparatory work was under way for the construction of the New Territories South Regional Police Headquarters at Tsuen Wan. Under the 'Police Stations Improvement Project' programme, improvements to 29 stations were completed in 2002 and refurbishment of the remaining 27 stations was in progress for completion in the second quarter of 2003.

Science and Research

The first three buildings in Phase 1 of the Science Park at Pak Shek Kok were officially opened in June. The three completed buildings comprise research and development buildings, and multi-storey car parking and communal facilities. Construction of the remaining seven buildings was under way.

    The buildings in the Science Park are equipped with many advanced technological and environmental systems, including an automatic dual chute refuse collection system and building-integrated photovoltaic panelling on the facade of the buildings to generate clean power from solar energy.

Medical and Health

Projects completed during the year included the Caritas Medical Centre Redevelopment, the Kowloon Hospital Redevelopment Phase I and the Fanling Primary Health Care Centre.

    During the year, significant progress was made on the Castle Peak Hospital Redevelopment (Phase II); the Hospital Improvement Programme (Phases III and IV); the establishment of a Radiotherapy Centre and redevelopment of the Accident and Emergency Department at Princess Margaret Hospital; and the Public Mortuary at Area 26E, Kwai Chung.

Recreation and Culture

Projects under construction include the Indoor Recreation Centre and Library in Area 100, Ma On Shan; improvement works to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay; Jordan Valley Playground (Phase II, Stage 2); local open space in Area 44, Tuen Mun; Kowloon Bay Recreation Ground; Ma On Shan Sports Ground (Phase II), and local open spaces in Areas 18 and 21, Fanling.

Tourism

Work on the Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai continued, and piling commenced for the Visitor Centre building. The department also managed streetscape and signage landscape projects in the Central and Western District.

Design and Build Contracts — Domestic and Offices

The Government Offices at Sha Tin and three departmental quarters at Hong Nin Road in Kwun Tong, Lai Chi Ling in Kwai Chung and in the West Kowloon Reclamation area were completed during the year.

Initiatives on Sustainable Development/Environmental Protection

The department continued to pursue environmentally sustainable development to promote the enhancement of energy efficiency and quality of public buildings and facilities so as to provide a safe and comfortable built environment for users.

    The 'Overall Energy Approach' introduced to the industry and the public in 2000 has been widely adopted in new building projects for the partial recovery of waste energy to contribute to the overall energy required in improving the air quality of the built environment.

    The incorporation of energy efficient features in public buildings and facilities continued during the year. More than 24 000 energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting fittings with T5 (16-millimetre diameter) fluorescent tubes were installed. Heat recovery chillers, thermal wheels, and heat exchangers were widely introduced in the design of new government offices, indoor recreation centres, schools and community halls. In promoting the use of energy efficient water-cooled air-conditioning systems (WACS), the department completed a total capacity of 15 megawatts of such systems for public buildings during the year, with a further 26 megawatts of WACS under design.

    In respect of sustainable development, the initiative of installing photovoltaic panels in public buildings and facilities continued, and a total of 1 700 square metres of various types of photovoltaic panelling was added during the year. Another initiative is the introduction of an air-conditioning plant of about 10.5 kilowatts, utilising geothermal energy flow principles, in the design of the Visitor Centre at the Hong Kong Wetland Park. Through the incorporation of energy-saving features in the department's building designs in 2002, an estimated annual saving of energy of about 300 million megajoules was achieved.

    The department continued to promote environmental best practices and good management at construction sites, and implemented the 'Green Contractor Award Scheme' for the second year. The environmental performance of contractors was closely monitored to minimise the impact on the environment as well as to ensure statutory compliance.