WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 197:
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HOUSING DEPARTMENT ACTED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN ROOFTOP LEAKAGE INCIDENT
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THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ACTED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO HELP TOP FLOOR TENANTS OF BLOCK 15, LOWER SHEK KIP MEI, AFTER ROOF ING REPAIRS COMBINED WITH STORMY WEATHER CAUSED LEAKAGES FROM CEILINGS.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LYDIA DUNN ABOUT THE INCIDENT ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 8.
HE SAID THAT THE ASPHALT LAYER OF THE ROOF WAS BEING REPLACED, BUT THE SHEETING USED AS A TEMPORARY COVER BY THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR WAS LIFTED BY A VERY HEAVY WIND OVERNIGHT. THEN FOLLOWED RAIN, CAUSING THE WATER TO PENETRATE THE ROOF SLAB.
MR. SCOTT SAID: +WITHIN 12 HOURS, ADEQUATE TARPAULIN SHEETING WAS SET UP, AND THE TENANTS WERE ASSISTED IN CLEANING UP.
+ARRANGEMENTS WERE THEN MADE TO ADVANCE THEIR PLANNED DATE OF REHOUSING TO UPPER PAK TIN ESTATE, AND 57 OUT OF THE 62 FAMILIES INVOLVED HAVE AGREED TO MOVE.
+ IN ADDITION THEY WILL NOT BE ASKED TO PAY RENT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.+
ON THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, MR. SCOTT SAID: +WITH MORE FORESIGHT ON THE PART OF THE CONTRACTOR, THE INCIDENT COULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.+
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ANSWERING ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MISS DUNN ABOUT THE REPAIR AND REDECORATION OF ESTATE BUILDINGS, AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE GENERALLY, MR. SCOTT SAID THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S MAINTENANCE BILL FOR ESTATES HAD GONE UP FROM $79.5 MILLION IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR TO AN ESTIMATED $108.6 MILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
HE SAID THAT THE AUTHORITY HAD A REGULAR PROGRAMME OF MAINTENANCE AND REDECORATION FOR ALL PARTS OF ESTATE BUILDINGS.
REPAIRS WERE MADE AS NECESSARY, WHILE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WERE SERVICED REGULARLY AS PART OF NORMAL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
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