What makes the ex-HACTL2 Building
a good choice as EMSD's new headquarters?

The building fits our needs in terms of location, size and space, and has the right structure. Relocating here also allowed us to resolve several issues at once.

First, we had outgrown the limited space and facilities that our old headquarters at Caroline Hill could provide. We had been operating out of that building for 40 years, during which time we had grown considerably, both in the number of our personnel and the scope of our activities. Second, the Caroline Hill site has now become a premium site and our vacation from that site would create much more value for the government. And third, the site of our Sung Wong Toi vehicle workshop had become part of the South East Kowloon Development Scheme at about the same time, so a replacement workshop had to be found.

The ex-Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal 2 (HACTL2) building was vacated in 1998 after the airport moved to Chek Lap Kok and hence had become available just when we needed it. It was recommended to us by the Government Property Agency and turned out to be an excellent choice as it suited our needs in so many ways. Its convenient location, good size and extra floor loading are perfect for our offices and workshops. It also meets our requirements under the metre-for metre principle, as its gross floor area of 80,000 square meters is roughly the same as that of the Caroline Hill headquarters and Sung Wong Toi workshop combined.

Relocating to Kowloon Bay has also had another benefit. Being here, we have been able to surrender our Kowloon Bay vehicle depot to the Government. So, by taking up the HACTL2 building as our headquarters, we have released three prime urban sites - in Caroline Hill, Sung Wong Toi and Kowloon Bay - to the Government for more cost-effective use.

You had to convert a cargo handling building to accommodate offices and workshops. Describe the challenges and cost involved.

We decided very early on that conversion was preferable to demolition, mainly for environmental reasons and also to save cost. We added one storey for extra office space, dismantled certain cargo lifting facilities that were no longer required, and carried out reprovisioning work to accommodate our need for workshops, parking spaces and so on. The original HACTL2 building was completed in the early 1990s and remained in good condition, so the conversion was fairly smooth. The total conversion cost was HK$880 million, in line with LegCo funding approved in 2001*.

How will the new headquarters enhance
EMSD's business and further its goals and mission?

A dedicated building that consolidates all our operations under one roof will no doubt enhance our efficiencies and internal communications to ultimately benefit all our clients and stakeholders. The relocation was an opportunity for us to modernise our equipment and facilities, most notably in information technology, and gave us the space to build a state-of-the-art data centre. We now also have better training facilities for staff, plus a full range of exhibition and education facilities to showcase how we have harnessed the latest technologies to promote E&M safety and energy efficiency in Hong Kong. We are also very fortunate to be able to showcase a variety of cutting-edge renewable energy demonstration facilities here at the new headquarters, which will be open to students and the community via educational tours and programmes.

Looking back, how would you describe
the Caroline Hill headquarters era?

Caroline Hill witnessed the growth and transformation of EMSD over four decades. It was our headquarters between 1966 and 2005 and probably pre-dated 1966 as a vehicle workshop.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the department was best known for its vehicle workshops and vehicle maintenance work, although we were also heavily involved in maintenance of many other electrical and mechanical installations. The key being the availability of craftsmen and skilled labour. The 1970s ushered in the era of Regulatory Services, which broadened our scope of work to include safeguarding the general public through the development of a regulatory framework for a host of E&M safety issues. This decade also saw much progress in sewage disposal and solid waste incineration, and we groomed many professionals who were later seconded to the newly established Drainage Services Department. The 1980s saw the emergence of electronics and medical electronics, and with the 1990s came the advent of energy efficiency and conservation as we set up the Energy Efficiency Office in 1994.

Caroline Hill witnessed many chapters in our development, which has been an upward shift from a focus on skilled labour to one on professional and technical service development, including engineering consultancy, while concurrently growing in regulatory development and technology utilisation.

Has the relocation been a worthwhile exercise?

Definitely. The relocation has enabled us to release three pieces of valuable land to the Government for more cost-effective usage, and to keep and rejuvenate HACTL2 for a new purpose. With enhanced public education facilities, members of the community will also be able to directly benefit from the new headquarters and gain more insight into the fascinating and valuable work we do. Finally, for us as an organisation, the move marks a new era in our development. Here we are in a structure of great potential that gives us a platform to modernise the department. It is a major morale booster for staff too.

Ten or twenty years from now, what do you think
staff will say about the headquarters?

I think EMSD will become more of a household name in the next one or two decades and that people will associate our organisation with our headquarters much more so than was the case at Caroline Hill. So the new headquarters will be a focus for staff pride as we engage more effectively with the community, as we test new technology; and as we continuously strive to uphold and upgrade our image.