Construction Innovation and Technology Fund Supports the Industry to Adopt SMART SITE SAFETY SYSTEM

The “Construction Industry Innovation and Technology Fund” (CITF) will subsidise the industry to adopt “Smart Safety Construction System (SSSS)” to enhance construction safety. With effect from 1 April, the total funding ceiling for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Advanced Construction Technologies of each applicant will be raised from the current HK$6 million to HK$7.5 million, of which HK$1.5 million shall be exclusively used for the procurement or rental of SSSS products after the effective date of the new initiative, so as to encourage SSSS adoption by the industry.

In other words, each applicant can receive up to HK$7.5 million for adoption of SSSS products to enhance construction safety when the new initiative comes into effect.

Ir Ricky LAU, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), said, “The Development Bureau (DEVB) has always attached great importance to construction safety. We have adopted SSSS in public works contracts in phases since 2020, and the first-phase of implementation in construction sites of different works nature has been largely completed. Experience shows that SSSS has made significant improvement in construction safety.

On this, DEVB issued a Technical Circular (Works) in February this year, requiring the adoption of SSSS in capital works contracts with contract sum exceeding HK$30 million. As for private works sites, the Government will subsidise contractors to adopt SSSS through the CITF, accelerating the drive of smart safe site and uplifting construction safety through the use of innovative technologies.”

Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), remarked, “Safety is never a one-man job, but requires the concerted efforts of the whole industry to put it into practice. The use of SSSS has become a trend in the industry as digital technologies can help practitioners identify potential risks and prevent accidents. Construction safety will be significantly enhanced via innovationand-technology-driven site mangement if there is a territory-wide adoption of SSSS in over 800 construction sites in Hong Kong.

So far, the CITF has approved a total of about HK$150 million to support the industry to leverage safety-related technologies. We strive to continuosly support the industry to adopt SSSS with the CITF. The CIC will also step up publicity by providing the relevant information and support so as to drive and assist the industry to achieve the goal of ‘Zero Accident’. For example the ‘Life First - Walk the Talk’ webinar series is held every third Wednesday of each month to discuss safety issues such as the application of SSSS, etc.”

Sr Eddie LAM, President of the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA), said, “HKCA fully supports construction sites to adopt SSSS, and welcomes the new initiative launched by the CITF to support industry’s adoption. This significantly relieves the financial burden for SSSS adoption by the industry, particularly for the Small-and-Medium Enterprises.

HKCA has set up the Construction Safety Fund in recent years to strengthen the drive to construction safety, and also allocated HK$10 million to launch a new Environmental, Social, and Governance Recognition Scheme in the end of last year to subsidise the adoption of innovative technologies to elevate the performance of construction sites. We will join hands with the industry to uplift construction safety through the adoption of various measures and technologies.”

Mr. WONG Ping, Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union (HKCIEGU), said, “We welcome the Government to strengthen measures to promote smart construction sites, uplift the safety level of the construction industry, and to provide a safe working environment for construction workers. The CIC will provide relevant information and training to help workers master and use SSSS; HKCIEGU will fully cooperate in facilitating workers’ understanding and use of SSSS to raise safety awareness.”

The Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the Government would adopt SSSS in capital works contracts with contract sum exceeding HK$30 million from early 2023 onward and subsidise private worksites to adopt SSSS through the CITF starting from the first half of 2023 for uplifting site safety performance.

The Government set up the HK$1 billion CITF in 2018, and further injected an additional HK$1.2 billion in 2022, to encourage wider adoption of construction innovations and technologies. So far, the CITF has approved around HK$800 million, which subsidised 1,000 enterprises to deploy innovations and technologies to enhance build quality, environmental performance, safety and productivity, and provided innovative technology- related training for 15,000 practitioners.

The CIC is responsible for the management of the CITF, including processing applications, monitoring the progress of approved projects, funding disbursement and promotion.

為提升工地安全，「建造業創新及科技基金」(基金)將資助業 界 採用「安全智慧工地」系統。由 4 月 1 日起，每位基金申請者就建 築訊息模擬及創新建 築科技方面的總資助上限，會由現時 600 萬港元增 加至 750 萬港元，當中 150 萬港元必須 用於在新措施生效後購買或租賃 「安全智慧工地」系統，以鼓勵業界採用系統。換句話說， 在實施新措 施後，每位申請者最多可獲得 750 萬港元資助採用該系統，提升工地安 全水平。

發展局常任秘書長(工務)劉俊傑表示:「發展局一向十分重視工地安全。 我們在 2020 年 分階段在工務工程合約採用『安全智慧工地』系統，已大 致完成首階段在不同工程性質的 工地採用相關系統。經驗顯示『安全智 慧工地』系統對提高工地安全的成效顯著。

因此， 發展局已於今年 2 月發出工務技術通告，要求超過 3,000 萬港元 的工務工程合約全面採用 『安全智慧工地』系統;至於私人工地方面，政 府透過基金資助承建商採用系統，加速推 動工地安全智慧化，以創新科 技全面提升工地安全。」

建造業議會(議會)主席何安誠工程師表示:「安全非一人之事，須整個行 業投入實踐。安 全智慧工地為業界趨勢，透過數碼科技，我們可以發現 安全隱憂，預防意外。如果全港逾 800 個工地都採用『安全智慧工地』系 統，利用先進科技管理工地，自然能夠大大提升工 地安全。

基金至今共批出約 1.5 億港元資助業界使用提升安全的相關科技，我們 希望繼續 透過基金全力支持業界採用『安全智慧工地』系統，議會亦會 加強宣傳，提供安全資訊及 支援，例如定期於每月第三個星期三舉行『生 命第一:行出安全』網上研討會，分享『安 全智慧工地』應用等安全相關 議題，推動及協助業界，達致『零意外』的願景。」

香港建造商會(商會)會長林健榮測量師說:「商會全力支持工地採用『安 全智慧工地』系 統，並歡迎基金推出新措施支援業界採用系統，大大減

輕業界尤其是中小型企業對採用系 統的財政負擔。商會近年亦成立『建 造業安全基金』加強推動建造安全，去年年底再撥出 $1,000 萬港元成立 全新的可持續發展嘉許計劃，資助工地應用創新科技，提升工地表現。 我們會與業界攜手採取各種措施及科技，加強工地安全。」

建造業總工會(工會)理事長黃平說:「工會歡迎政府加強措施推動智慧工 地，提升建造業 的安全水平，及讓工友可在安全的環境工作。議會將提供 運用系統的相關資訊及培訓，協 助工友掌握及使用相關系統;而工會會全 力配合，協助工友了解及使用系統，提高安全意 識。」

行政長官在《二零二二年施政報告》中提出，2023 年年初起在超過 3,000 萬港元的工務工 程全面應用「安全智慧工地」系統，並於 2023 年上半年 透過基金，資助業界在私人工地應 用相關系統。

政府於 2018 年成立總額 10 億港元的基金，並於 2022 年額外注資 12 億 港元，鼓勵廣泛 採用創新建築方法及科技。基金至今已批出約 8 億港元， 資助約 1,000 家企業採用創新科 技促進生產力、提高建造質素、改善工 地安全和提升環保效益，並為約 15,000 位從業員提 供創新科技相關的 培訓。議會負責基金的管理，包括處理申請、監察獲批項目的進度、發 放 資助，以及推廣。

To promote the development of Façade engineering in Hong Kong, HKFA strives to nurture new talents. Since 2017 The Façade Engineering Training Course has trained up over 300 talents in the industry. The course hosted by real world practitioner successfully coached students with both theoretical and practical knowledge on façade engineering.