Millennium and beyond

The Code of Practice on Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004, which was launched in December 2004, introduces several new concepts in the assessment of wind loads for the structural design of buildings or building works in Hong Kong. Along with the promulgation of the Code, the Buildings Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a technical document called Explanatory Materials to the Code of Practice on Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004 which provides a summary of the background information and considerations reviewed by the Code Drafting Committee during the preparation of the Code. This paper intends to give a brief account of the major changes in the Code as compared with the 1983 version and to discuss the rationale behind the Code in determining the basic design parameters for the assessment of wind loads on a building structure. Stephen K. L. Lo Former Chief Structural Engineer, Buildings Department, Government of HKSAR

The Buildings Department (BD) in Hong Kong commissioned Jacobs Babtie to carry out two consultancy studies on precast concrete construction in Hong Kong and on the structural use of reinforced concrete using limit state design. The ultimate objective was to prepare a code of practice for Precast Concrete Construction and a new limit state design code for the design of Reinforced Concrete in Hong Kong to replace the current Hong Kong code of practice. This paper briefly outlines the particular requirements of Hong Kong, the areas of research and the structure of the new Codes of Practice. Albert W. K. Leung Director, Jacobs Babtie, 15/F Cornwall House, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Allen Spring Senior Engineer, Jacobs Babtie, 15/F Cornwall House, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong