2016/SOM1/EC/WKSP2/013 Session 4.3 Dealing with Permits in Hong Kong, China Submitted by: Hong Kong, China Ease of Doing Business Workshop: One-Stop Shops to Improve the Business Environment Lima, Peru 26-27 February 2016
One-Stop Shops Dealing with Permits in Hong Kong Mr. Michael HP LI MSc(Fire and Safety Engineering), MRICS, MHKIS Chief Building Surveyor, Buildings Department Hong Kong, China Background of One Stop Centre 2 1
Be the Smart Regulator Programme Launched by Hong Kong, China in February 2007 To enhance Hong Kong s business licensing processes and business environment. Jointly coordinated by: the Efficiency Unit under the Chief Secretary s Office; and the Business Facilitation Division of the Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit (EABFU) under the Financial Secretary s Office 30 bureaux and departments joined the Programme take forward improvement measures to streamline licensing processes reduce compliance costs to business. improve the Customer friendliness, Efficiency and Transparency of the their business licensing services. 3 Working Group for Re-engineering and Streamlining Dealing with Construction Permits Established in 2007 Comprises EABFU, Development Bureau & 6 departments: Buildings Department Lands Department Fire Services Department Drainage Services Department Highways Department Water Supplies Department Improvements achieved mainly through streamlining workflow eliminating unnecessary procedures improvement in processing efficiency 2008 Rank: 20 th Procedures: 15 Time: 119 days Cost: 18.7% 2007 Rank: 60 th Procedures: 23 Time: 155 days Cost: 21.3% In 2008, HK s ranking for the indicator of Dealing with Construction Permits was up from 60th in the preceding year to 20th 4 2
One Stop Centre 5 One Stop Centre (OSC) Set up in 2008 Administered by the Efficiency Unit to provide a centralized office for receiving first submissions of plans and related applications as well as coordinating joint inspections for two-storey warehouses From 2009-2014, HK s ranking for the indicator of Dealing with Construction Permits was up to the top among all examined economies In 2015, HK s ranking was 7th 2009 Rank: 1 st Procedures: 7 Time: 67 days Cost: 18.7% 2008 Rank: 20 th Procedures: 15 Time: 119 days Cost: 18.7% 6 3
Dealing with Permits by OSC Pre-construction stage OSC receives applications for: approval of plans, consent for commencement of works excavation permit technical audit for water supply connection works and issue of water supply certificate Refer to relevant departments for process under streamlined procedures OSC to monitor progress of each application 7 Dealing with Permits by OSC Post-construction stage Upon completion of construction work, all relevant applications/notifications for issuance of approvals and permits together with applications for utility services to be submitted to OSC in one go OSC refers the applications to relevant parties for processing A joint inspection by all departments organized by OSC on request of applicant 8 4
Recent Reforms of OSC 1. Highways Department Excavation Permit Management System (XPMS) launched for processing Excavation Permits through internet. Processing time for excavation permit reduced from 20 days to 5 days. 2. Fire Services Department Further streamlined the process of handling applications for certificates of fire service installations. Processing time further shortened from 19 days to 17 days. 9 Recent Reforms 3. Lands Department Streamlined the related procedures. Time for issuing certificates of compliance for two-storey warehouses reduced from 21 days to 19 days. 4. Water Supplies Department Application process of water supply applications streamlined Water supply could be made available on the same day of the joint and final inspection. 10 5
Recent Reforms 5. Application / Notification for Utilities Government and some utility service providers collaborated to launch a Composite Form. Applicant can submit applications for electricity and telecommunication services and notification to Water Supplies Department for completion of plumbing works in one go via the composite form to OSC. 6. Buildings Department Buildings Department dealing with construction permits for private developments, has undertaken various reforms in recent years to streamline the vetting procedures and hence reduce the total processing time. 11 Dealing with Construction Permits 12 6
Buildings Department Vision To make the built environment safe and healthy for our community Mission To set and enforce safety, health and environmental standards for the planning, design and construction of private buildings 13 Building Control Authorized Persons (Architects, Surveyors, Engineers), Structural Engineers and Geotechnical Engineers registered under the Buildings Ordinance coordinate, design and supervise the building works Registered contractors carry out the building works Prior approval and consent obtained from BD before commencement of building works No new building shall be occupied before an occupation permit is issued 14 7
Construction Permits in 2015 Around 19,000* nos. of plan submissions processed Around 10,000* nos. of consent for commencement of works granted *including all types of plan submissions, alteration and addition works re-submissions, and amendment submissions 15 Centralized Plan Processing 16 8
Centralized Plan Processing Implemented since 1976 One stop shop service to facilitate AP to obtain comments from all relevant government departments To collate the comments from the parties concerned within statutory time limits 17 Centralized Plan Processing Fire Services Dept. Planning Dept. Lands Dept. Geotechnical Engineering Office Highways Dept. Transport Dept. Environmental Protection Dept. Others depts or agencies as necessary Drainage Services Dept. 18 9
Other Examples of Centralized Processing Restaurant License Applications Food, Environment and Hygiene Department Fire Services Department Buildings Department 19 Curtailed Check System 20 10
AP/RSE/RGE s Certification AP/RSE/RGE to certify compliance with the provisions of the Buildings Ordinance Plan Checking by BD Check fundamental issues only Audit checking 21 Statutory Periods Approval deemed to be given unless refusal notified by BD to AP within the statutory periods 60 days 30 days Approval for first submissions and resubmissions constituting a major revision Approval for resubmissions and amendments prior to consent 28 days Consent to commence works 14 days Occupation Permit 22 11
Streamlined Procedures Concurrent processing for approval of plan and consent (30/60 days) 45 days for two-storey warehouses meeting certain criteria (since 2008) Fast track applications (30 Days) Priority status for special projects 23 Site Auditing for Building Works 24 12
Site Auditing Purpose To bring to light structural safety-related and qualityrelated irregularities or procedures and practices Strategy Focus on compliance with the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance and regulations Surprise checks Performance-based approach to frequency of checks 25 Reforms Implemented by BD 26 13
Reforms implemented in Feb 2016 Scheduled inspections Building Control for Two-storey Warehouses Conduct Inspection of foundation bearing stratum within 1 working day upon receipt of notification Combined inspections - quality inspection to structural elements has been combined with the comprehensive inspection at superstructure construction stage Total no. of scheduled inspections reduced from 3 to 2 Unscheduled inspections No further unscheduled audit subject to satisfactory results of initial auditing for foundation and/or superstructure works Total no. of unscheduled inspections reduced from 2 to 1 27 Dialogues with Stakeholders Regular discussion forums with stakeholders Pre-submission enquiries Practice Notes for AP, RSE & RGE Circular letters on new issues or practices Working Groups with stakeholders to review practices from time to time, e.g. a benchmarking exercise on the quality of plan submission to facilitate approval 28 14
Thank You 29 15