The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened in Fo Tan this afternoon (January 24), in which a man died. The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene up… read more
​Mr Ivanhoe Chang will assume the post of District Officer (Kowloon City) tomorrow (January 25), succeeding Miss Alice Choi. Since joining the Administrative Service in 1995, Mr Chang ha… read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (January 24) announced that the 18th batch of the Smart Traffic Fund, which involves two projects, has been approved by the Management Committee, with a total grant of around $23.7 million.
The two approved projects in the latest batch cover (1) a smart driving assistant based on a vision-language model and (2) a connected autonomous bus with multi-system compatibility. Details of the projects are available on the Fund’s website (www.stf.hkpc.org).
The Fund accepts applications throughout the year to provide funding support to local organisations and enterprises for conducting research and applying innovation and technology, with the objectives of enhancing commuting convenience, enhancing efficiency of the road network or road space, and improving driving safety. All applications are considered and assessed in batches by the Management Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Commissioner for Transport (Planning and Technical Services) and comprises representatives from the Government, experts in the industry and relevant stakeholders.
The TD appeals to interested organisations and enterprises for participation to help make the Fund a success and to build Hong Kong into a more liveable and sustainable city by driving Hong Kong toward a new era of transportation.
Application details are available on the Fund’s website. For enquiries, please contact the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Secretariat of the Fund, on 2788 5536 or stf_sec@hkpc.org. read more
The Labour Department (LD) held a meeting on “Enhancement of Scaffolding Safety” today (January 24) to explore ways to enhance the safe use of scaffolds.
The meeting was chaired by the Commissioner for Labour, Ms May Chan, and attended by representatives from the Development Bureau, the Architectural Services Department, the Buildings Department, the Construction Industry Council, main contractors’ and sub-contractors’ associations (including the bamboo scaffolding industry and the curtain wall industry), workers’ unions and relevant professional associations.
At the meeting, the LD briefed the attendees on serious scaffold collapse accidents that occurred in the past few years. Additionally, the LD discussed with the trade how to enhance the safe use of scaffolds on external walls, ensuring that scaffolds are secure and stable during work to avoid accidents.
A spokesman for the LD said, “We hope to work together with the trade to prevent the recurrence of such accidents. The LD will prudently consider the opinions of the trade representatives and continue to work closely with relevant organisations and stakeholders to explore ways to enhance the safe use of scaffolds.”
The spokesperson stressed that putlogs for securing scaffolds to the external walls of building structures are of paramount importance to the stability of scaffolds. There should be sufficient and properly installed putlogs. The scaffolds (including putlogs) should be regularly checked, as well as properly repaired and maintained to ensure their safe and secure condition.
The LD reiterated that the Codes of Practice for scaffolding safety issued by the LD clarify these requirements for the trade and provide practical guidance on scaffolding safety. To ensure the safety and stability of scaffolds on construction sites, main contractors and sub-contractors should make planning as early as possible. They should take into account the works to be carried out by each contractor using the scaffolds on external walls, as well as formulate and implement suitable work arrangements, to avoid improper alterations to the scaffolds (including cutting off the putlogs) during the construction stage, as well as incompatible work activities being carried out at the same time in the vicinity of the scaffolds, which could affect their stability.
The Housing Bureau (HB) today (January 24) invites tenders for the operation and management contract of Light Public Housing (LPH) at Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak (Phase 1), and encourages the active participation of capable and experienced organisations.
The LPH project at Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak, will be completed in two phases, providing about 3 000 and 7 700 units in the fourth quarter of this year and the third quarter of next year respectively. This tender invitation is for the operation and management contract for the about 3 000 units in Phase 1. Same as the previous three contracts, the operation and management services mainly cover occupant management, property management, daily maintenance, the provision of social services, and the management and operation of ancillary facilities. To encourage participation of different stakeholders in the community, the HB welcomes tenders from all capable and experienced service providers, including non-government organisations and those with a valid property management company licence, or collaborations between them.
To ensure service quality, the HB will carry out a technical assessment based on a series of factors, including management capability, relevant experience and past service performance of the organisations, as well as proposed modes of operation and management, social service support to be provided, feasibility of an exit plan and the use of innovation and information technology as stated in their proposals, so that the facilities and services of LPH can meet the needs of the residents and the local community. The tender price will then be evaluated to form a consolidated assessment to decide on the most suitable organisation for operating the LPH.
The first LPH project at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, which provides about 2 100 units, will commence tenant intake in the first quarter of this year. It is managed and operated by the Pioneer Management Limited – Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Joint Venture. The second operation and management contract, which covers the two LPH projects at Choi Hing Road and Choi Shek Lane, Ngau Tau Kok (i.e. the former St. Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese School), providing about 2 290 and 148 units respectively, has been awarded to the Easy Living Consultant Limited and Yan Chai Hospital Joint Venture. The two LPH projects will be completed in the second quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2026 respectively. The HB is now evaluating the tenders for the third contract covering the LPH at Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun (i.e. Tuen Mun Area 3A), which provides about 1 900 units with tenant intake tentatively scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
A spokesman for the HB said, “LPH could fill the short-term gap in public housing supply and improve the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing as soon as practicable. We will continue to press ahead with relevant works at full speed. Among other things, the first LPH project at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, will commence tenant intake shortly. Apart from providing a better and safer accommodation for families in need, the HB hopes that the residents can have a more comfortable and dignified life with various social facilities and community services. Therefore, we hope that experienced and aspirational organisations can continue to actively participate in the tender exercise and collaborate with us in this large-scale social project.”
Interested organisations may download the tender documents via the relevant tender notice on the HB’s website (www.hb.gov.hk) or from the e-Tendering System; or contact the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing under the HB for obtaining the tender documents. The Tender Reference is HB2025/OPR-LPH-OA1.
Tenderers must submit their tenders by noon on March 14, 2025 (Friday), either electronically via the e-Tendering System or by deposit in the Government Secretariat Tender Box situated at Lobby of the Public Entrance on Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar. Late tenders will not be accepted. read more