Tunnel washer procured for Route 8 Tsing Sha Control Area. The big brush cleans tunnel walls to maintain the level of tunnel lighting.

The airport business in 2007/08 exceeded targets but the vehicle business saw a small deficit despite increased revenue, largely due to unexpectedly high surges in materials cost.

After losing a number of airport tenders early in 2007/08, the Division won back some major business during the year. These wins include four-year contracts for the operation and maintenance of the Passenger Terminal Chiller System and the Seawater Cooling System. Competition for Airport Authority tenders will continue to be intense as more private sector contractors have gathered airport engineering experience in recent years.

At the same time, the opening of Terminal 2 has brought new business from other government departments at the airport, with the Division managing the operation and maintenance of additional E&M facilities and CCTV systems for the Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department, for example. The Division will also provide E&M services at the new headquarters of the Civil Aviation Department in Chek Lap Kok, which will also house the Air Traffic Control Centre upon completion in 2011/12.

Six zero-emission electric scooters were procured for the Hong Kong Police Force.

The vehicle business has become stronger with several important wins. A Fleet Management System developed by the Division was presented to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). This system will be installed in its selected vehicles and the entire fleet later. At the same time, the Division also undertook a project to relocate the Police Force Third Generation Command and Control Communication System from old Police vehicles to new ones that replaced them. The Division also secured a maintenance contract covering all general purpose vehicles of the FEHD.

Among several energy-related initiatives completed during the year, the Division supplied six electric scooters to the Police. The vehicles, which will be used for patrols, run on batteries and have zero emissions. In addition to providing procurement and maintenance services, the Division also conducted briefings and operation trainings for officers since the vehicles differ from conventional motorcycles in several aspects. To promote the use of hybrid cars, the Government has procured 193 hybrid cars in 2007/08, increasing its hybrid fleet to a total of 202, and we assisted in the procurement process. Compared to conventional vehicles, hybrid cars are more energy efficient and produce less noise pollution as the motor is silent in its battery-driven mode. Hybrid cars also generate less dust from the braking systems as the vehicles use regenerative braking systems to charge the battery during braking.

Internally, the Division has merged its Hong Kong and Kowloon vehicle workshops under single command for better deployment of resources. It has also procured two new electronic brake testing systems to enhance efficiency.

A team from the Vehicle Engineering Sub-division was named first runner-up in the Internal Service of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007, while airport staff gained the second runner-up prize in the 2007/08 Airport Environmental Best Practice Competition.

2008/09 is expected to be another competitive year, with margins threatened by rising costs and inflation. Some staff will relocate to a depot adjacent to the airport to reduce rental expenditures. Cost control will be as important as revenue expansion to maintaining a viable business.