health of the public. As an example, the Building (Ventilating Systems) (Amendments) Regulations 1971 introduced a new system of control of ventilating systems which it is hoped will reduce the risk of spread of fire in buildings. A new statutory Register for ventilation contractors was opened in January and by 31st March, 1972 twenty-three contractors had been registered.
5.07 The opportunity was taken in December 1971, to correct a number of minor errors and make consequential amendments to the building regulations and the Governor-in-Council approved these corrections in the Building (Law Revision) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1971. A number of other amendments to the building regulations, including the proposed new structural regulations, were under active consideration during the year and consideration was given to the task of incorporating metric units into building legislation although no positive steps have yet been taken.
5.08 Under the sponsorship of UNESCO, the Chief Structural Engineer, Mr. H. K. CHENG, attended the Regional Seminar on Wind Effects on Buildings and Structures held in November in Manila, where views were exchanged on the subject with many specialists from the region. Mr. CHENG was later in the year invited by the Organizing Committee of the International Conference on the Planning and Design of Tall Buildings, to be held at Lehigh University, U.S.A. in August 1972, to join its Technical Committee on Concrete Design Standards as a State-of-Art Reporter.
Hong Kong Division Chief Building Surveyor:
A. L. AYLMER, A.R.I.B.A. J. C. HOWLETT, A.R.I.B.A.
H. MCATEER, A.R.I.B.A.
(Acting)
GENERAL DIVISIONS
Kowloon Division Chief Building Surveyor: J. C. HOWLETT, A.R.I.B.A. K. B. O'SULLIVAN, B.Arch., A.R.I.B.A., M.R.I.A.I.
New Territories Division Chief Building Surveyor: S. C. CHEN, C.Eng.,
M. I. Struct. E.
K. B. O'SULLIVAN,
B.Arch., A.R.I.B.A., M.R.I.A.I.
5.09 The control of building development on private land in the Colony, to ensure that the standards laid down in the Buildings Ordinance are upheld, continues to be the primary objective of the General Divisions. All plans for site formation, piling, building, structural details, drainage, wells, private streets etc., are submitted by authorized architects to these Divisions for scrutiny and approval and
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