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| Mr Uy Tat-ping, JP |
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund has achieved another year of satisfactory financial performance in 2007/08, with return on revenue maintained at double digit of 10.4% while achieving 7.3% revenue growth. Further profitability growth was hindered by higher operating costs, particularly in the purchase of imported parts and components, the cost of which rose with a weak Hong Kong dollar. While this situation appears likely to continue for some time, we have both extended and strengthened our capabilities and our business during the year.
A key development is our on-going participation in major infrastructure projects. We are proud to be part of the project team behind the completion of the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Corridor opened on 1 July 2007. We have now taken responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the boundary crossing facilities along with those at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point. We look forward to participating in the other major infrastructure projects now in the pipeline in Hong Kong.
We are also honoured to be part of the team supporting the Beijing Olympics. Following a successful technology trial run held during August 2007, we provided sound, radio, broadcasting, CCTV and Wi-Fi systems, video display boards and other Information Technology-related support to the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events hosted by Hong Kong this summer.
This is a clear demonstration of the strength of our Information and Communications Technology (ICT) business, which has achieved significant growth again in 2007/08. During the year, we participated in various client projects including the Red Light Camera, the Journey Time Indication System and other Intelligent Transport Systems. We have also provided the engineering consultancy services for the installation of Wi-Fi facilities at government premises, and have expanded our Data Centre services. Furthermore, a 3.5G Mobile CCTV System was developed in-house using the latest wireless technology and this system won the Bronze Award for Best Public Service Application (Small Scale Project) at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2007.
I now turn to developments in customer service. We recently enhanced the e-portals through which we stay in touch with our major clients, and finalised plans to deepen our client communications. In the coming year, we shall organise more high-level and working-level client seminars to report on Service Level Agreement performance, and listen to client feedback. In support of Action Blue Sky, we shall also work to enhance our professional advice to clients to help them save more energy through implementation of energy efficiency initiatives and the wider use of renewable energy. As always, we were responsive to clients' urgent requests throughout the year, adding more than 160 extra body storage spaces at public hospital mortuaries, for example.
On a different front, and as a first step towards offering complete engineering asset management consultancy services, we have developed a risk-based Replacement Prioritisation Model to help our clients in assessing the condition and replacement priority of their E&M assets more scientifically and systematically. The Model is designed to also enhance the availability and reliability of these assets, helping client departments boost the quality of the services they provide to the public.
Last but not least, and thanks to clients' cooperation, the latest Customer Opinion Survey was completed in April 2008 and we have looked into the results to identify areas for improvement. At the same time, we have reviewed the findings of the Staff Satisfaction Survey and the Internal Communication Audit conducted during the year to formulate action plans to also address staff concerns.
Staff development and safety remain our top priorities. In the year under review, we exceeded the annual target of 4.5 training days per staff member and stepped up training in new business areas such as railway and sound engineering, intelligent transport systems and incineration. We also continue to seek ways to improve occupational health and safety. Though we have made considerable strides in workplace safety in recent years, with the incident rate falling 63% over the decade from 1997/98, there is still room for improvement. A closer look at the statistics shows that many incidents were caused by unsafe behaviour and inadequate safety awareness in the workplace.
We shall therefore introduce a behaviour-based safety model in 2008/09. Under this model, observers will be deployed in workshops to identify unsafe behaviour by our staff. Observations and improvement suggestions will then be shared with staff in a supportive environment without naming individuals, making criticism or imposing penalties. This approach aims to tackle unsafe behaviour at source in order to foster higher safety awareness among staff and eventually achieve a zero-incident safety target.
I am delighted to report that staff won various awards in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007. The Vehicle Engineering Sub-division, for example, took the first runner-up prize in the Internal Service category (Team Award). Also noteworthy is the 10-Year Service Grand Award presented to our Staff Volunteer Service Team by the Secretary for the Civil Service in January 2008.
The EMSTF business has potential for steady growth as the economy continues to be robust and clients continue to improve their operations through new projects and additional works. However, we must make a particular effort on cost control in an inflationary environment such as today. That said, our workforce has come a long way in embracing a customer-focused service culture and I have every confidence that the business will progress further.
Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the EMSTF team for its dedication and hard work, and our customers for their support. I have no doubt that the organisation will go from strength to strength in future years.
Uy Tat-ping
Deputy Director / Trading Services, EMSD
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