H
וי
18
|
Wednesday, June 20, 1973
יד
Regardless of this, the same site was allowed to be redeveloped in
another way in early January 1971 to provide an increase of 36 flats, all
with car parks.
"How else could this have been effected except at the expense of
safety for all?" she asked.
The rock-cutting slope was increased to 80.5 degrees, she said,
and the new architect's statement that the elope was of rock appeared to
have passed unchecked and unchallenged.
"The carelessness of those concerned the architect, the developers,
the relevant staff of the Public Works Department was in strange contrast
to the many expressions of alarm.by residents of the Po Shan Road area," she
said.
▬▬
"Another factor of human weakness was the desire to make money quickly
by pressing ahead with the development without any consideration for the safety
of those hapless people living nearby."
Mrs. Symons stressed that in Hong Kong, with its "occasional immaturity
concerning public welfare, the government must assume even more responsibility
in the regulations concerning" architectural work.
The average citizen, she emphasised, had an inalienable right to
expect the government to provide adequate provisions for safety to withstand
torrential rain similar to that of last year.“
Referring to the Sau Mau Ping-landslide site, Mrs. Symons said that
while the catastrophy was of major proportions, there appeared to be less evidence
of human error, according to the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the
two landslide disasters.
The Commissioners concluded that the landslip in this area was mainly
due to the softening of the ground as a result of the exceptionally long and
intense rainstorms.
/19
Page 20Page 21