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Hon. Colonial Secretary,
The following is a
C C
35348
1
Rectement regarding REG 5 OCT C
332
to the question of the
Inland Lot 1523, with special reference landslips which have occurred to the south of that lot.
Inland Lot 1523 was sold at public auction
on the 22nd. February, 1899. The Sale Conditions contained no reference to the construction of retaining walls or to the levelling of the lot, the only condition of a special nature being one to the effect that the design of the buildings to be erected on the lot was to be subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works.
Plans were deposited in the usual way
under the Building Ordinance (No. 15 of 1889) and acknowledged or the 24th. April, 1899. They showed nothing in the shape of
a retaining wall to support the bank which was to be formed by
cutting away the hill to level the site, the cutting being shown merely to be sloped off and left unsupported. It frequently happens that such cuttings stand for indefinite periods without support.
The occupation certificate for the house
erected on the lot was issued on the 25th. May, 1901, and the
Crown Lease was issued about the same period.
So far as can be ascertained, the first landslip occurred on the 4th. August, 1902, about which date very extensive damage was caused to property generally by
typhoons and rainstorms.
Many houses collapsed, numerous landslips occurred and, in some cases, retaining walls, which had stood for a number of years,
failed.
A retaining wall was then constructed by
Mr. Wei Yuk to support the bank between the points XX on the
attached tracing. A considerable length of the bank, which had
not been affected by the landslip, was still left unsupported.
No plan was deposited in connection with the work.
A second landslip occurred about the end of
June