Chief Executive CY Leung has tasked the Secretary for Development to establish and lead a dedicated office to monitor and control the cost of infrastructure projects.
Delivering his 2016 Policy Address today, Mr Leung said construction costs are escalating and several major projects have experienced significant cost overruns.
He said there is a need for the Government to strengthen cost control.
"The Government will soon roll out new measures in relation to public works projects to reduce unnecessary design and contractual requirements under a 'no frills' principle. Such measures, including a holistic review of relevant guidelines, will embrace innovative design concepts and approaches without compromising technical and safety standards."
The Government will put in place an indicative cost system for public works projects. Except for special circumstances and projects that have entered the design stage, the unit cost of all new government building projects must be lower than the benchmarks.
The works departments will enhance the standardisation of project design, promote mechanisation and construction by prefabrication, and adopt the guiding principle of “design for buildability” to reduce costs without undermining safety.
"Procurement and tendering of projects will be refined with the aim of lowering the risk premium included in the tender price and reducing the overall project cost. The Secretary for Development will establish and lead a dedicated office to take forward the relevant work."
The Government will, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council, provide construction workers with a clear career ladder, boost skill and professional development, and attract new entrants to the industry.
The council forecasts a shortage of up to 15,000 skilled workers in the construction industry for the next few years.
"While we will strive to provide training and attract local workers to join the industry, there is still a genuine need to import workers to cater for our development needs, on the premise of according priority to local workers in employment and safeguarding their wage levels.
"The Government will review the effectiveness of the enhancement measures under the Supplementary Labour Scheme to ensure the sustainable development of the construction industry."
Meanwhile, the Government has also earmarked over $80 million to provide franchised bus companies with a subsidy to install seats at over 1,000 bus stops and real-time bus arrival information display panels for the convenience of waiting passengers.
