LLAMAS, Joshua Joseph C.

RES100-11 – E01
Research Title: Delays in Construction works on general Civil Engineering

Projects in Hongkong

Statement of the Problem

The main objective of this research study is to determine and investigate

the foremost reasons for such construction delays occurring on civil engineering

projects in Hong Kong. The specific aims of the study are as follows:

1. Gather the perceptions of civil construction practitioners.

2. Determine how significant are the causes of delay.

3. Investigate whether the suggestions of the Construction Industry Review

Committee are applicable and effective at mitigating the corresponding

delay.
 Related literature

Figure 1. Summary of previous studies on causes of delay in construction

industry
 Many researchers have conducted surveys and study on the causes of delay

in the construction industry; some of these are summarized in Fig. 1. A

preliminary investigation was conducted in early 1994 to examine the primary

reasons for project delays in one-hundred eleven (111) building and civil

engineering projects in Hong Kong that were concluded between 1990 and 1993

(Kumaraswamy & Chan, 1995) It was observed that only 40% of government

buildings, 25% of private sector building, and 35% of civil engineering works

were completed within schedule, with the average overrun time exceeding 20%

(Chan and Kumaraswamy 1995)

The Construction Industry Review Committee (CIRC 2001), headed by

Mr. Henry Tang, was appointed by the Chief Executive of HKSAR to review the

construction industry's current state and recommend measures for improving

quality and performance. The Committee looked over the entire construction-

delivery process and sought radical changes to help produce quality products

delivered on time and within budget. The report suggested a vision for the growth

and development of an integrated construction industry capable of continuous

improvement toward excellence in a market-driven environment. It aimed at

cultivating a modern, safe, innovative, efficient, environmentally responsible,

and client-oriented construction industry that could support the further

development of our economy in the 21st century and provide a better living

environment. To solve the critical problem areas of the Hong Kong construction
industry, the Committee made 109 recommendations for improvement (CIRC

2001)
 Reference

Construction Industry Review Committee (CIRC. (2001). Construct for

excellence, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong.

Lo, T. Y., Fung, I. W. H., & Tung, K. C. F. (2016, December 19). Construction
delays in Hong Kong civil engineering projects. Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management.

Kumaraswamy, M. M., and Chan, D. W. M. (1995). “Determinants

ofconstruction durations.”Constr. Manage. Econom.,13(3), 209–217.