The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Housing Department today (September 29) to meet with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and matters of concern.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Mr Nip first met with the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Director of Housing, Miss Agnes Wong, and the directorate staff to receive an update on the department's work relating to public housing matters and the challenges confronting them.
　 Mr Nip then toured the Architectural Section of the Development and Construction Division, where he learned more about the work of the section on the planning, design and construction of public housing developments including the latest, Hoi Tat Estate in Sham Shui Po and On Tai Estate in Kwun Tong. Mr Nip said he was pleased to know that colleagues were committed to developing sustainable public housing and providing appropriate community facilities to enhance the quality life of residents. For instance, the department designed and built the Sham Shui Po Leisure and Cultural Building in Hoi Tat Estate, and constructed a 145-metre-long footbridge connecting Hoi Tat Estate and Hoi Ying Estate to facilitate the accessibility of the two estates and nearby public housing developments and assist the residents in reaching the Cheung Sha Wan waterfront area.
Mr Nip said that public housing is a livelihood issue of great concern to the people of Hong Kong. He encouraged civil servants to have a sense of urgency, to put themselves in other people's shoes, and to think from a user's perspective in order to resolve problems for and better serve members of the public.
He also received a briefing at the Geotechnical Engineering Management Unit under the Estate Management Division on how colleagues utilise technology to enhance their work, including the rolling out of the new Slope Maintenance Management System (SMMS) early this year. Using the real-time Geographic Information System and mobile application technology, the SMMS enables colleagues to retrieve, upload or analyse slope-related data at any time in offices or on-site while carrying out slope maintenance and emergency repair works. The SMMS also helps colleagues communicate and share real-time slope-related information with relevant work units. All this will enhance work efficiency.
　
Before concluding his visit, Mr Nip met with staff representatives of various grades to exchange views on matters that concern them.
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