WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1974.
3.
CO-OPERATION AMONG TENANTS
KEY TO A SOUND BUILDING MANAGEMENT
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COOPERATION AND INITIATIVE AMONG TENANTS ARE THE KEY TO A SOUND BUILDING MANAGEMENT WHICH TURNS A TENEMENT BUILDING INTO A NICE AND COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TELLS A TRUE STORY OF THE RISE, FALL AND SUBSEQUENT REVIVAL OF AN OWNERS CORPORATION OF A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING IN SHAUKIWAN WHICH VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATES THIS POINT.
IN JUNE 1971, AN OWNERS CORPORATION WAS SET UP IN THE 19-STOREY BUILDING MADE UP OF 136 UNITS.
UNDER THE CORPORATION
A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SUCCEEDED
IN LOOKING AFTER THE AFFAIRS OF THE BUILDING FOR ONE YEAR UNTIL FRUSTRATION CROPPED UP AS A RESULT OF MISUNDERSTANDING AND LACK OF COOPERATION OF INDIVIDUAL TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
SUBSEQUENTLY THE COMMITTEE ENTERED INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH A SERVICE COMPANY. SINCE THEN THE COMMITTEE BROKE UP AND THE OWNERS CORPORATION WAS THUS LEFT WITHOUT AN EXECUTIVE ARM AND THE BUILDING WAS RUN BY THE SERVICE COMPANY WITHOUT PROPER SUPERVISION.
THE SITUATION WAS WORSENED WHEN THE CONTRACT EXPIRED IN JUNE THIS YEAR, LEAVING THE BUILDING WITH NO CLEANSING STAFF AND CARETAKING SERVICE. LITTER, WASTE AND PETS' EXCREMENT FILLED THE CORRIDORS AND STAIRCASES WHILE PART OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS SIMPLY FAILED TO WORK. INDEED, THE RESIDENTS HAD TO LIVE IN A HELL OF DIRT AND FEAR OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIME.
THE CHAOTIC SIUTATION OF THE BUILDING PROMPTED THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN) TO ACT. INITIAL EFFORTS BY THE C.D.O. TO CALL AN EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING OF ALL FLAT-OWNERS TO DISCUSS THE RE-ELECTION OF A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE PROVED ABORTIVE AS THERE WAS SIMPLY NO RESPONSE.
HOWEVER, AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY THE C.D.O., A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WAS FINALLY FORMED IN JULY. THIS SHOULD HAVE MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A NEW PHASE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE INDIFFERENCE OF THE RESIDENTS WHICH CAUSED THE NEWLY-ELECTED CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN.
ONCE AGAIN, CHAOS APPEARED TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY. THE THREE LIFTS OF THE BUILDING BROKE DOWN ONE AFTER ANOTHER. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TWO ELECTRICITY BILLS FOR COMMUNAL LIGHTING AMOUNTING TO $2,000 WERE OUTSTANDING.
THIS TIME,