HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 January 1989
香港立法局
————一九八九年一月十八日
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For protection where there is a difference in ground levels, regulation 25(5) of the Building (Planning) Regulations requires that:
"Where any open space or area is at a level more than 600 mm below an adjoining open space, safe parapet walls, railings or fences shall be provided by the person creating the difference in levels."
For protection of openings on an external wall, regulation 3A of the Building (Planning) Regulations provides that:
"(1) Every opening placed on an external wall above the ground floor of any building shall be protected by a barrier which shall be not less than 1 100 mm high and the lowermost 150 mm of such barrier shall be built solid; and
(2) A barrier provided under paragraph (1) shall be so designed as to minimize the risk of persons or objects falling, rolling, sliding or skipping through gaps in the barrier, or persons climbing over the barrier.'
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Regulation 3 of the same regulations provide similar requirements for protective barriers in respect of balconies and verandahs.
The above current provisions are considered adequate in ensuring safety relating to railings from the design point of view.
With regard to the Hong Kong Housing Authority's estates, the railings and parapets are already of a height in excess of that stipulated under the Building Regulations, that is, 1.2 m as against 1.1 m. The height and design of the same for the Hong Kong Housing Society's estates also comply with existing regulations, and where appropriate, planters on top of parapets are provided to prevent against climbing over.
It should perhaps be pointed out that incidents such as that referred to do not necessarily occur as the result of the height of a parapet or balcony. Better supervision of small children, for example, is probably more effective in preventing incidents of this kind. Notwithstanding this, both the Housing Authority and the Housing Society are fully aware of the need to make their properties as safe as reasonably possible. Feedback from incidents of this nature is taken account of in the design of new blocks and the maintenance and improvement of existing buildings.