Supplementary to Question No. 3 in the
Legislative Council on 29 May 1985
Mr. S.L. Chen :
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Sir, presumably, the public transaction in question would have
been dealt with through solicitors, in which case would it be proper for Government
to refer the names of the solicitors involved to the Law Society to ascertain
whether they have acted responsibly ?
Secretary for Lands and Works : Sir, I would imagine if anyone feels aggrieved
and has a complaint about possible incompetence or negligence of lawyers in property
transaction cases, he would lodge such a complaint with the Law Society of Hong
Kong for investigation.
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Mr. Allen Lee : May I ask a question about enquiries. How many enquiries, say,
in 1984, have been received by the Buildings Ordinance Office with regard to
purchase of flats whether it is in contravention of the provision of the Buildings
Ordinance ?
Secretary for Lands and Works : I don't have statistics ready in hand but I would
imagine very few enquiries had been made.
Mr. Stephen Cheong : - Sir, can the Secretary confirm or otherwise that 'unauthorised
structure' means structure that would probably provide difficult situation or damage
to life and limb ?
Secretary for Lands and Works :
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Not necessarily, Sir, any building work which
has not had approval from the Building Authority for commencement and construction
would under the law be unauthorised. They may become legal if in every respect
they comply with the Ordinance and subsequently an Authorised Person has submitted
plans for those works and subsequently received approval of the Building Authority.
They could then in that case be legalised.
Mr. Stephen Cheong :
Sir, would the addition of seating capacity, for example,
in this Chamber, be classified as unauthorised, if there is no Authorised Person
to submit plans for the Buildings Ordinance Office to vet?
Secretary for Lands and Works - The law says that all building works require
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submission of plans to the Building Authority for approval. Of course there are
categories of minor works, such as putting up partitions and decorators' works,
which could be exempted.