WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1976.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN KOWLOON
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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 247 TEMPLE STREET TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NO. 245 TEMPLE STREET LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS AND ORDERED THE DEMOLITION OF BOTH BUILDINGS.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THESE THREE-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND ROOFS SUPPORTED ON LOAD-BEARING WALLS,
NO. 249 TEMPLE STREET IS A VACANT SITE, AND THE EXPOSED PARTY WALL SHARED WITH NO.247 HAS SETTLED AND MOVED SLIGHTLY OUTWARDS. THERE ARE SERIOUS FRACTURES IN THE PARTY WALL, AND ALSO FRACTURES IN SOME REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS AND BEAMS. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT NO.247 TEMPLE STREET IS NOW IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE.
NO. 245 TEMPLE STREET WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE COLLAPSE OR DEMOLITION OF NO.247, WITH WHICH IT SHARES A COMMON STAIRCASE.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON JULY 7, 1976 WERE POSTED TODAY.
ALSO DECLARED TO BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY WERE STRUCTURES ON THE ROOF OF 20-24 LO TAK COURT, TSUEN ON BUILDING, TSUEN WAN.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT THE UNAUTHORIZED STRUCTURES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ERECTED ON THE ROOF OF THIS BUILDING, NOT ONLY LACK EMERGENCY FIRE ESCAPES FOR THEMSELVES BUT ALSO OBSTRUCT_THE_MEANS OF ESCAPE TO THE ROOF OF THE MAIN BUILDING WITH THE RESULTANT DANGER THAT OCCUPANTS COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OCCURRING ON THE LOWER FLOORS..
THE PUBLIC IS ALREADY AWARE OF RECENT CASES OF FIRES IN BUILDINGS WHERE THE OCCUPANTS HAVE ESCAPED TO THE ROOF AND HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN RESCUED FROM THE ROOF BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THIS AVENUE OF ESCAPE IN BUILDINGS WITH ONLY ONE STAIRCASE IS CLEARLY OF THE UTMOST
IMPORTANCE.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON JULY 20, 1976 WERE POSTED TODAY.
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