Secretary for Development visits construction site in North Point (with photos)

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, together with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Mr Choi Chun-wah, visited the building site of the Customs and Excise Department headquarters in Java Road, North Point, today (March 16).

Accompanied by the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Yue Chi-hang, Mrs Lam and Mr Choi were briefed on the 34-storey building project, which will accommodate the offices and operational facilities of the department's 23 formations.

A variety of green building features, including energy-efficient curtain wall, green podium roof, and energy-efficient air-conditioning and lighting installations, will be adopted to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly building.

Mrs Lam and Mr Choi learnt that a smartcard system was installed to ensure that only registered workers are allowed to enter the site. Under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance, all construction workers carrying out construction works on construction sites must be registered workers. So far more than 260,000 workers have been registered under the ordinance.

Mrs Lam and Mr Choi also learnt that a Labour Relations Officer was employed at the site to look after the benefits of the construction workers and monitor payment of wages as well as checking the employment records. A variety of safety measures and welfare programmes, such as talks on work safety, health checks, and picnics, were organised by the contractor to provide a safe and healthy work environment for the workers.

Ends/Monday, March 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:24

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Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam (left), was briefed by a representative of the contractor (right) on the wage monitoring system in place at the construction site of the Customs Headquarters Building. Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam (middle), Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Mr Choi Chun-wah (right), and Director of Architectural Services, Mr Yue Chi-hang, sharing views on construction industry issues. Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, chatting with workers at the construction site to understand their work.

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