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LAND AND HOUSING
viewed with such concern at the end of 1962 that the existing official Working Party on Slum Clearance was augmented by the appoint- ment of three unofficial members and given as an additional term of reference the task of investigating this problem. The report of the working party was submitted in November and was still under consideration by the government at the end of the year.
The structure almost universally used in private building in Hong Kong continues to be reinforced concrete frame with floor slabs cast 'in-situ'. However steel framing is now being used to a greater extent than previously, particularly for prestige buildings in the central district of Hong Kong, and the most modern finishes and mechanical installations are fitted.
Despite the large number of new buildings erected during the past 10 years many old buildings of load-bearing brick wall and timber floor construction remain. Because of their age, coupled with neglect, over-crowding and the effects of typhoons and tropical rain- storms, the risk of sudden collapse is always present. The Building Authority carries out constant inspections of buildings which are suspect and during 1965 issued 279 closure orders for buildings which were either in imminent danger of collapse or had deterior- ated to such an extent as to create a grave risk to the safety of the occupants. In all, 17,408 people were involved and the way in which they were rehoused is described in the section of this chapter headed 'Squatter Clearances'.
The Buildings (Amendment) Ordinance 1965, which came into effect in August, amended several of the provisions of the principal ordinance. Its main effect, however, was to provide for the setting up of a panel of selected authorized architects who will serve on committees of review to hear appeals against decisions of the Build- ing Authority made under the powers conferred on him by the Buildings (Amendment) (No 2) Ordinance 1964. Under this ordin- ance the Building Authority could either refuse to allow building works to proceed, or impose stringent and perhaps costly conditions before allowing them to proceed, if he considered there was danger to adjoining and other buildings. Although a committee of review will be able to overrule the Building Authority's decision this will not mean that he will no longer have any control over building works. Should the Building Authority consider at any time that a neighbouring building is endangered an order to cease work can be