both Police and Fire Brigade a number of old buildings which had been rendered dangerous were closed and evacuated and subsequently demolished, thus averting collapses which might otherwise have resulted in disaster.
Assistance to other Government Departments
118. Inspections continued to be made on behalf of the Police (as Licensing Authority) in respect of places of public entertainment, repair garages and printing establishments. Advice was given to the Education Department in connexion with the registration of buildings used as schools but not designed and constructed as such.
119. Assistance continued to be given to the District Commissioner, New Territories on building matters and since August all proposals for building works in the New Territories (other than simple village type structures) have been submitted directly to this office for scrutiny. As in the urban areas regular inspections are made during construction.
Unauthorized Structures
120. In conjunction with the Resettlement Department (Squatter Control) a start has been made on the removal of unauthorized structures on roof tops.
121. In the case of other unauthorized structures, where owners have failed to comply with the statutory notice for removal, the Chief Architect has provided estimates of cost and called upon his maintenance contractor to carry out the necessary work.
122. The figures set out below give further information in connexion with the work of the office in its various functions.
123. 938 new buildings were completed during the year of which 751 are for domestic use.
124. In all, 4,686 approvals were issued for plans in respect of 5,810 buildings of which details are set out below:
Domestic Buildings:
69 plans for 85 Apartment buildings 98 11 plans for 201 European type houses 165 90 plans for 265 Chinese type houses 15 plans for 124 Tenement buildings 31 plans for 16 Blocks of European type flats 1 plan for 1 Low Cost Housing Scheme 11 plans for 11 Composite buildings 1 plan for 1 Boarding House 2 plans for 2 Hotels 22