2008年12月10日 星期三

My Response to Raymond Ho's Legco Motion on Infrastructure Development

Dear All,


Ir Raymond Ho has moved in Legco today a motion on promoting infrastructure development. Whilst the objectives of the motion – to expedite infrastructure development, increase employment opportunities, enhance the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong and attain sustainable development – are in fact the stated aims of the government, the key actually lies in what is missing from the motion – a roadmap of what, how and when.


What?


Whilst the Ten Infrastructure Projects are worthwhile pursuits, we should be cool-headed enough in understanding what will benefit us most, and what will not. For instance, by its own admission the government has pointed out that it could not finish site formation for the Lok Mak Chau Loop project until 2020. This throws doubt on whether the project can really help HK and the engineering profession in a timely fashion. Should we not urge the government to consider other development priorities, such as new development areas around Kam Tin and Yuen Long, and avoid being stuck in the mud?


How?


The power of engineering should be deployed to meeting the needs of the Hong Kong people. In this time of financial tsunami and climate change crisis, we should try to forge a Green New Deal – creating green jobs whilst improving the environment. For instance, in the West Kowloon Cultural District project, we can bring in engineering innovations to create a low-carbon demonstration zone, by using district cooling systems, automated people-mover networks and micro-renewable energy. Engineers can show the way to a brighter future.


When?


By focusing solely on the Ten Infrastructure Projects, we tend to forget that not all community members, and not all engineers, may benefit from mega-projects. We need coordinated policies to speed up both public and private investments in community projects that can bring early gains to the neighbourhoods. These may include the strengthening of the recycling industry, upgrade of energy efficiency in building stocks, addition of pedestrian walkways, improvement works to harbourfront promenade, roof greening and many others. Top policy makers should not be allowed to offer more excuses for delaying other sustainable infrastructure such as HATS II and waste-to-energy plants. To make this happen, we need policy breakthroughs not just from the Development Bureau, but also the Environment Bureau, the Transport Bureau, the Finance Bureau, and above all, a Chief Executive humble enough to bow to professional views.


Ir Raymond Ho may have good intention in moving such a motion. Yet during this time of crises, what the government needs is more foresight and innovation beyond conventional views. A dull and unimaginative motion will not help.


May I take this chance to wish all fellow engineers a merry Christmas, and extra strength to take us through the turbulent times in the New Year!


Ir Albert Lai   
10 December 2008 


[For details of Ir Ho's motion, pls click
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr08-09/english/counmtg/agenda/cm20081210.htm]


In support of corporate social responsibility, Ir Albert Lai serves on the Judging Panel of the HK Sustainability Reporting Award for the sixth year at the invitation of ACCA.



Winners of the HK Sustainability Reporting Award 2008 include CLP, Swire Pacific, MTRC, Gammon Construction and The China Navigation Company.



 


2008年12月1日 星期一

建設農村重生能力由汶川開始

汶川大地震剛過了六個月,進入了落實規劃、開展永久性重建的關鍵時刻。

在鎂光燈已經撤出了災區,災民生活漸漸被遺忘之際,香港大學和北京師範大學剛在四川成都舉辦了一場「全球對話」,檢視災後重建面對的挑戰。在會後的實地考察過程中,一方面令人感受到救災重建投入的巨大資源,另一方面令人憂心重建進度的城鄉差異,讓數百萬受災農民捱上一個難以忍受的寒冬。

「這是全世界最大的板房區,總共住上了兩萬多人!」當工作人員為我們介紹德陽市的臨時安置區的時候,這種把災區變作旅游景點的感覺令人渾身不自在。隨後到達了綿竹市漢旺鎮,由於鎮上的鐘樓剛好在大地震的一刻 --- 下午二時二十八分停頓下來卻屹立不倒,政府決定把全鎮保留作為「地震紀念公園」。看上去剛剛三十出頭的鎮長介紹了全鎮在十多公裡外覓址重建的迫切性,在令人心酸的瓦礫中道出了對未來的憧憬。

第二天到達的北川縣城,是另一個全鎮被毀,需要易地重建的重災區。縣城原來有一萬多人口,地震後僅四千多人逃出,而全城近三份之二的面積,更在九月廿四日被泥石流大幅掩沒,全城現已被公安封鎖,不准進入。儘管如此,縣城封鎖線的外圍還住有不少居民,主要生計是向到訪的遊客推銷災情圖片及光盤,當中包括不少在路上穿梭兜售的小孩。

農村重建舉步維艱

香港無國界工程師和四川省社會科學院剛於上月在彭州市小魚洞鎮攜手完成了一項農村災後調查,了解當地中壩村農戶的境況和對災後重建的訴求。

中壩村共有305戶,998人散居於7個自然村,現有山林12700畝和田地650畝。該村是有名的中藥之鄉,種植藥材的收入佔村民總收入的六成,其他收入來源還有礦山和炸藥廠,運輸業,外出務工,經營農家樂等。在2007年,村民人均年收入約五千元。超過七成的災民表示,他們的頭等大事是重建永久住房,已經開過六次村民會議,填過五次表格,但政策多變著實讓村民摸不著頭腦。

按照當地政策,農戶可以選擇三種重建方案:原址重建、統規統建或統規自建。選擇原址重建的家庭,根據家庭人口數計算補貼金額:1-2人戶,補貼16000元;3-4人戶,補貼19000元;5人及以上戶,補貼22000元。統規自建則是在原址重建補貼金額的基礎上,給予每人8000元的基建費補助。統規統建則是村民不出錢,政府不補貼,但需要集中住在統一興建的平房。對口支援的外省設計院據稱已提出了一個「上海式」的統建平房規劃方案,但大部份人還是不願意統規統建,一來離開原來住的地方種地不方便;二來沒有地方飼養牲畜;三來樓房“無天無地無院壩”住不慣。新建一間農村住房最少要五、六萬元,與政府承諾的補貼差一大截。由於大部份農民既無積蓄,亦無貸款渠道,政府因農民未有配套資金而不願發放補貼,所以中壩村永久住房的重建基本上並未開展。

從中壩村面對的困境,可以看到農村重建必須克服兩大風險。第一是「由上而下」的決策模式 :如果災民沒有渠道參與重建規劃的決策,便隻能服從於「一刀切」的指令,接受不切實際的安排。第二是「由外至內」的支援模式 :外來對口支援單位對行政方便的考慮,往往凌駕災民的實際需要,結果導致資源浪費,亦無助於當地社區的可持續發展。

由下而上方能發揮動力

相對於資源集中的城鎮,偏遠農村獲分配的資源甚少,政府資助亦最難落實。看來加快農村重建的最佳辦法莫過於增強農民在地建設的能力。例如,成立村鎭一級的「重建互助社」作為共同規劃、集體接受支援、對外談判和採購的單位。政府可以鼓勵公民團體向「重建互助社」提供服務和專業支援,加強在地能力建設。

為了切合現況,「統規統建」的模式可代之以「共規聯建」,在專業人士義助下推動農民參與共同規劃,因地制宜由農民聯合建設自己的家園。為了解決農民配套資金不足的難題,必須設立「微型信貸」機制以彌補「國家補助」的不足,鼓勵銀行接受在建住房為抵押品,提供小額貸款。

特區政府現有共二十億元的捐助,其中九成多已用於城市基建的大型項目。鑑於農村重建的特殊困難,特區政府在下一輪的援建款項中,應撥出最少一半作為協助農村能力建設之用,更可藉此鼓勵本港專業人士發揮所長,參與培訓工作,提供規劃、工程、建築、心理輔導和社區建設等服務,以至利用本港的金融專長協助設立「微型信貸」機制。雪中送炭的價值萬倍於錦上添花,港人的捐獻必須用得其所。

<原文刊於信報2008年11月27日「專業眼」專欄>

 



The ruins of Beichuan township with a casualty of over 6000.

 



Global Dialogue held in Chengdu in mid-November 2008

 


The transitional housing in Chongba Village taken on 13/11/2008

 

Dear Fellow Engineers,

 


Many engineers are concerned about the reconstruction progress in Sichuan, now that the HKSAR Government has allocated $2 billion to help. In my trip to Sichuan two weeks ago, it is clear that tremendous effort are being poured into the reconstruction. A lot of infrastructure, including roads and bridges linking major cities, are being rebuilt. It is however also clear that the majority of resources are allocated to cities and large townships. The subsidies and assistance to remote villages and small townships are much harder to come by.

In a visit to Chongbai Village in Pangzhou City - the site where Engineers Without Borders - Hong Kong (EWB) had recently completed a post-disaster survey in collaboration with the Sichuan Academy of Social Science, it was evident that reconstruction for permanent housing has yet to begin. All villagers are staying either at transitional housing at a central location or temporary self-built huts near their own plots of land. They are bracing for a cold winter under pretty basic conditions.

The slow progress is as much a result of lack of funding (government subsidies cover less than half of what most households need for rebuilding their own house) as the lack of participatory planning. From the survey it is clear that the villagers know exactly what they need to rebuild their own lives but unfortunately the current arrangements for external help are delivered through a top-down approach which do not necessarily take into account of their needs.

There is much that Hong Kong professionals can help. The key is to help build local capacity by training local professionals and offer assistance in participatory planning, engineering and construction. To solve the funding problem, it is also worth exploring the feasibility of micro-finance at the village level. None of these is easy to come by as it requires trust-building with local partners and the removal of many adminstrative barriers. And yet such effort by Hong Kong engineers, even if only partial success can be achieved, may mean a huge difference to the many villagers now living in barely acceptable conditions.

EWB will continue to work on proposals to help with rural reconstruction in Sichuan, and to deliver our service as soon as resources become available. Should you like to help or to learn more about the charitable work of EWB. please feel free to contact me or Ir Bruce Chong via info@ewb.hk.

Ir Albert Lai
1 December 2008