-->
The Secretary for Planning and Lands, Mr Gordon Siu, and British Minister for Trade, the Rt Hon Richard Caborn, today (February 9) jointly launched the construction of the "Flats for Tomorrow" at Tamar in Central.
Officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony, Mr Siu said that the INTEGER Hong Kong Pavilion is an action research demonstration project to test how intelligent and green concepts can be applied to the challenging high-rise and high-humidity environment of Hong Kong.
As a joint-venture partner, the Hong Kong Government has made available a section of the Tamar site for the duration of the project.
The pavilion comprises two parts: two modular flats representing a segment of a 40-storey tower and a large exhibition area.
"The flats are constructed in a pre-fabricated modular manner to reduce waste and improve quality. These are important concerns recognised in the recent Construction Industry Review Committee report," he said.
The flats will incorporate means to increase energy efficiency as well as to control the cooling load from a central air-conditioning plant.
Structured cabling in the flats is designed to enable future occupants to meet their personal and business telecommunication needs and to control the flat's systems, including energy usage and security.
"The flats will truly be flats for tomorrow," he added.
Mr Caborn said that INTEGER is a very exciting project because it addresses one of the great challenges for all communities - the need to build high-quality economical housing using the efficiencies which modern technology can provide, and at the same time protect and sustain the environment.
"The INTEGER Hong Kong Pavilion is an excellent example of Hong Kong and UK public and private sectors working together in partnership.
"It is an exciting illustration of how initiatives taken by Governments can make a major contribution to global environmental issues."
The pavilion will be open to the public in September this year.
Joining the HKSARG, the UKG and INTEGER of the UK in this project as Founders are: Gammon Construction Limited; Swire Properties Limited; CLP Power; the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
End/Friday, February 9, 2001
NNNN