譬
嚚
CONFIDENTIAL 機發
jom: Security Branch (Sec. GSC)
To: H. E. and Members of
the GSC and DBD.
Ref:
(118) in CR 6/662/68 II
Dated:
1st September, 1976.
PAPER FOR THE GOVERNOR'S SECURITY COMMITTEE
Enforcement of the Airport (Control of Obstructions} Ordinance in the Kowloon Walled City.
Recommendation
(a) A Working Party should be set up under the direction of the Secretary for Security to prepare detailed proposals for the enforcen.ent of the Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance in the case of occupied buildings in the Kowloon Walled City which exceed the heights permitted. The Working Party should pay particular attention to the question of com. - pensation and alternative accommodation for those affected and should be guided by the policy which Government has applied in other comparable situations though it is recognised that it may be necessary to resort to special arrangements.
(b)
The measures already introduced to prevent any new buildings from exceeding the permitted Leights should continue and be maintained vigilantly by the Police, the City District Office and the Building Ordinance Office of the P. W. D.
Problem
2. Hong Kong is required by ICAO to restrict the height of buildings near
Unfor- the Airport in accordance with an n nationally agreed formula, tunately, because, as a matter of policy, the Building Or dinance is not enforced in the Walled City and, in consequence, no prior warning of their proposed height was given through the subrirsion of the usual plans, a nur ber of buildings have been put up there which exceed the height limits laid down in the Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance. As long as these building s remain and despite the proximity of other higher landmarks and natural obstructions not far from them they constitute a danger to aircraft and to residents of the densely populated area round about which would be seriously affected if an aircraft crashed in it, The Government would be liable for very heavy claims if it could be shown that the crash was due to the existence of such buildings.
Background and Argument
3.
During 1975 it was discovered that a number of buildings in the Kowloon Walled City exceeded the heights permitted under the Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance. Following discussion in Governor's Security Committee on 30th May, 1975 (Item 30/75 refers) action has already been taken to reduce the height of three new and unoccupied buildings and
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
/arocedures.
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