Task force to look into cutting construction costs for Hong Kong public flats
Cost to build a public flat has risen by 5.4 per cent to nearly HK$1 million at a time when Hong Kong faces a massive deficit
In a move welcomed by industry professionals, the Housing Bureau will establish a task force led by a director-grade official to see if there is room to squeeze the construction costs of various works. The Development Bureau earlier told the Post that it was conducting a study to devise ways to bring down costs.
Authorities revealed in January that the cost of building a public flat had risen from HK$920,000 last year to HK$970,000. The cost of building subsidised flats offered under the Home Ownership Scheme also rose from HK$1.09 million to HK$1.15 million, sparking public concern.
“We will review how direct procurement and adjustments to the processes can save us manpower and costs,” a government source said.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Monday that the second generation of “modular integrated construction” (MiC) was cheaper now than when the government first adopted the technique.
The MiC method employs free-standing, integrated modules from mainland Chinese factories that undergo quality inspections before being installed on-site.