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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to depict the developmental process of a buildability assessment model for use at the scheme design stage of building projects, which have a priority requirement for functional performance rather than aesthetic performance. Design/methodology/approach – First, major decisions made at the scheme design stage of building projects were identified through pilot interviews and a questionnaire survey on designers. Second, these decisions were rated for their relative importance towards buildability through another questionnaire survey on contractors, analysed using the reliability interval method. Based on these results, a list of buildable and non-buildable features and their impacts is compiled by interviewing major contractors. These findings were incorporated into a modified framework of buildability assessment for complete design, substituting information available at the scheme design stage. Validation was carried out using four sample projects and feedback from practitioners. Findings – The results obtained from the Scheme Design Buildability Assessment Model have been demonstrated as reflective of actual buildability level. Buildable and non-buildable features, as exemplified by typical building projects in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, have been identified. Originality/value – This is the first model which provides a tool for use by the design team to evaluate the buildability of their designs at an early stage, so that necessary improvements can be made without affecting the development program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to identify the most critical concerns of property developers in terms of the transaction costs involved in compliance with environmental laws at the building scheme design stage when key design decisions are made. Design/methodology/approach – Sixteen structured interviews were carried out with experienced industry practitioners in Hong Kong. Transaction cost theory is used to explain the regulatory compliance costs. Findings – The results show that the most significant impacts of transaction costs were due to uncertainties in negotiations with government, which takes time to obtain approvals and overcome ambiguous legislative requirements. Practical implications – The government could make use of the research findings to formulate a clear environmental policy to coordinate various departments and laws to address uncertainty with time for project delivery, and conduct quantitative regulatory impact assessments in the development of new legislation. Originality/value – This study identifies and explaines "uncertainties" as the most critical concern for property developers in terms of the transaction costs involved in compliance with environmental laws. The results of this study would help policymakers to improve policy design, which would in turn increase efficiency and productivity in the property development process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use and misuse of alcohol and their relation to risky sex have received modest scholarly attention in China. This type of research in high HIV/STI groups such as men who have sex with men (general MSM) and men who sell sex to other men (“money boys”) (MB) in China is essentially absent. Therefore, the primary purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the types of alcohol consumed and levels of daily alcohol consumption among Chinese general MSM and MB in Shanghai, China. A secondary purpose was to explore demographic, lifetime sexual behavior, and psychosocial correlates of daily consumption levels. The sample consisted of 404 MSM (200 MB) who live in Shanghai, China. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and filled out a cross-sectional behavioral survey. Where appropriate, comparisons were made between MB and general MSM. Over 73% of participants reported drinking at least moderately every day. MB reported drinking Western red wine and other Western hard liquors (e.g., vodka) more frequently than general MSM. Conversely, general MSM consumed Chinese white wine more frequently than MB. Results from the regression analyses showed that MSM having higher lifetime sexual risks were more likely to drink in excess; though MB with greater social provisions were less likely to drink in excess. These results begin to highlight high levels of drinking and drinking-sexual risk relationships among groups of general MSM and MB and are useful for guiding intervention efforts among high-risk groups in China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – This paper aims to highlight the similarities and differences in the buildability perspectives held by the client and the design team (collectively known as the design decision-making group) and the contractor (known as the execution group). Design/methodology/approach – Buildability attributes were identified through a questionnaire survey, followed by factor analysis to consolidate them into nine buildability factors. These were then presented to 31 construction experts (comprising clients, consultants and contractors), who ranked the buildability factors in association with common construction systems using the analytical hierarchy process. Findings – Whilst the consensus was on "enabling design requirements to be easily visualised and co-ordinated by site staff" to make designs buildable, clients and design teams differed from contractors in perspectives such as overcoming site restrictions, achieving standardisation and flexibility. When applied to construction systems, clients and design teams ranked precast systems higher than contractors, who favoured in situ systems. Research limitations/implications – Since the research was conducted in Hong Kong, the interpretation of the findings should be based on this contextual background as described in the paper. Originality/value – This paper highlights the common and different perspectives of the design decision-making group and the execution group in evaluating buildability and the reasons underlying their decisions. It paves the way for meaningful benchmarking of an important attribute affecting all construction stakeholders. The results form part of the development of a Buildability Assessment Model for use in Hong Kong, which is a useful tool for benchmarking buildability of designs, as in other countries (e.g. Singapore) which see the benefits of this important attribute on project performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transaction costs (TC) in property development incurred by complying with planning regulations can be unpredictable and extremely high, especially under a high land-price policy in which property developers have to pay approximately 60% of the total project cost, the land price, on day one. The aim of this paper is to identify the property developers' primary cost concerns arising from the planning regulations in Hong Kong, which is subject to a high land-price policy. Sixteen structured interviews with experienced senior industry practitioners were performed to collect their insights. The qualitative research analytical tool NVivo was used for the data analysis. Results showed that developers' primary cost concerns arose out of regulatory uncertainties attributable to unclear and unexplained approval and rejection criteria and to regulatory ambiguities. Such uncertainties can cause project delays and defer developers' investment returns. Understanding the regulatory TCs of planning regulations would enable project stakeholders to take early actions to reduce or avoid such costs. The research findings would also help policy-makers to formulate more effective strategies to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs and eventually enhance policy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since information and communication technology (ICT) was introduced into the construction industry over a decade ago, the once fledging technologies have now been well developed. ICT has been commonly adopted, particularly in places where speedy construction is the norm, e.g., in Hong Kong. At the time when ICT is seemingly well developed, this paper aims at identifying the difficulties and hindrances facing the end users of such information exchange systems during design and construction and the consequential effects on project performance. Through literature review, a series of structured interviews, and a questionnaire survey, it is found that industry users welcomed the advancement of ICT, but that the necessary technical and psychological supports from their organizations were insufficiently provided. In addition, significant differences on the hindrances and their consequential effects have been identified between end users in the private sector and those in the public sector. The study findings have also highlighted factors impeding the smooth implementation of ICT systems at the end-user level, which would help organizations to formulate effective strategies to cope with ever-evolving communication technologies and changes in working style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the need to improve the buildability of building designs pursuant to an industry-wide study, a Buildability Assessment Model (BAM) has been developed for use in Hong Kong by adapting the Buildable Design Appraisal System of Singapore. This paper is aimed at evaluating the practicalities of implementing the BAM, and identifying any possible resistance and corresponding improvement strategies based on a questionnaire survey with industry practitioners. Results showed that the BAM is a useful tool for assessing the buildability of completed designs. There is, however, inherent resistance hindering the smooth implementation of the BAM, such as designers valuing aesthetics more than buildability and the lack of incentive conducive to buildability improvement. Measures for enhancing buildability are suggested, including the establishment of formal channels for coordination and communication between contractors and designers. Independent survey results indicate that consultants and contractors have the consensus that the BAM would help to improve buildability in the longer term. Together with other pull and push factors, the benefits to be brought about by such measures and the feasibility of possible legislation are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the quantitative decision-making technique, the analytical hierarchy process, to derive prioritized scales for (1) the constructability factors; and (2) the relative contribution of common construction systems in a building superstructure comprising structural frames, slabs, envelopes, roof, and internal walls toward constructability. The identified constructability factors show that to enhance constructability design requirements should be easily visualized and coordinated by site staff, while designs should allow economic use of contractors’ resources and enable contractors to develop and adopt alternative construction details. The precast method is rated as the most constructible construction method, indicating its better performance in facilitating efficient and safe construction in the busy urban environment in Hong Kong. However, the methodology adopted in this study should be of international interest, especially for those desirous of improving constructability of designs with different contextual backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some reflections of a practising non-native speaking English teacher. Ten years ago, in a job interview for a teaching post in a government school, The writer was asked: ‘Do you think the government should recruit more native English-speaking teachers so as to boost the English standard of Hong Kong students?’ My answer took the interviewers by surprise: ‘No, I think the money should be spent on training local teachers who are more able to understand the needs of students learning English as a second or foreign language. I believe good English doesn’t necessarily mean British or American English. If we see English as an international language, anyone capable of using it as an effective communication tool can potentially be a good English teacher.’ I got the job, but there are still a few questions in my mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]