MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1974
14 BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL TO BE PULLED DOWN
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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NOS. 316 AND 330 QUEENS ROAD CENTRAL TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND
NOS. 318-328, 332-334 QUEENS ROAD CENTRAL TOGETHER WITH NOS.2-8 TUNG STREET AS LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THIS GROUP OF 14 BUILDINGS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE REVERTED TO THE CROWN, LIES WITHIN THE URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT, PILOT SCHEME AREA.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THEIR CONDITION HAS BEEN OF CONCERN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT ALMOST ALL ARE ONLY PARTLY OCCUPIED OR ARE VACANT, AND IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE REMAINING OCCUPIERS WOULD VACATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IT WAS CONSIDERED EXPEDIENT TO KEEP THEM UNDER OBSERVATION.
A RECENT INSPECTION, HE SAID, HAD REVEALED ACCELERATED DETERIORATION INCLUDING MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT VERANDAH IN NO.316 QUEENS ROAD CENTRAL AND IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS NOW A RISK OF FAILURE LEADING TO A COLLAPSE.
A SIMILAR TYPE OF MOVEMENT WAS ALSO OBSERVED IN NO.330
QUEENS ROAD CENTRAL.
+THE CONDITION OF THE PARTY WALLS OF ALL THESE BUILDINGS IS SUCH THAT IN THE EVENT OF ONE BEING DEMOLISHED THERE IS A RISK OF FAILURE DURING OR AFTER THE OPERATION OF THOSE ADJOINING.
+IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT A NUMBER OF OTHER DEFECTS SUCH AS BADLY DECAYED TIMBER ACTION MUST NOW BE TAKEN AND THOSE BUILDINGS WHICH ARE OCCUPIED MUST BE CLOSED AND THE WHOLE GROUP DEMOLISHED IN ONE OPERATION, HE SAID.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS FOR NOS.320- 332 QUEENS ROAD CENTRAL AND NOS.2, 4 ANB 8 TUNG STREET WERE POSTED TODAY.
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