WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1979
17
HEAVIER FINES NO DETERRENT FOR BUILDING OFFENCES
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THE FIVE-FOLD INCREASE IN FINES FOR VIOLATION OF BUILDING REGULATIONS IS INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED WITH THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING, THE HON. S.L. CHEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).
THE INCREASE, FROM $50,000 TO $250,000, IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE MUCH EFFECT ON THE DETERMINED+ OFFENDERS, HE SAID IN COMMENTING ON THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979.
INSTEAD, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE BE REVIEWED TO FIND A MORE BASIC SOLUTION. HE ALSO MADE FOUR OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERATION.
FIRST, IF THE OFFENCE IS SERIOUS ENOUGH, THE NAME OF THE OFFENDER SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE STATUTORY REGISTER, EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, DEPENDING ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MISCONDUCT.
THIS WOULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE DETERRENT THAN HEAVIER FINES, HE SAID.
SECOND, THE EXISTING PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SHOULD BE STRICTLY ENFORCED SO THAT THE +AUTHORISED PERSON+ OR REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER+ WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AND SUBMIT ON REQUEST A COMPLETE RECORD OF HIS SUPERVISION GIVEN TO THE BUILDING WORKS.
THESE PERSONS ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO SUPERVISE THE CARRYING OUT OF THE BUILDING WORKS IN THE PRESCRIBED MANNER,
+ IT CAN BE EXPECTED, THEREFORE, THAT IF ADEQUATE AND PROPER SUPERVISION IS GIVEN, THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL USED AND THE WORKMANSHIP IN THE EXECUTION OF THE BUILDING WORK AT ALL STAGES OF PROGRESS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCURATELY RECORDED,+ MR. CHEN SAID.
THIRD, ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE BUILDING AUTHORITY, SHOULD SHARE THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BUILDING WORK.
MR. CHEN POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE AUTHORISED PERSON+ AND +REGISTERED CONTRACTORS+ ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL WORK, AND FAILURE ON THEIR PART IS SUBJECT TO SEVERE PENALTIES, THERE IS NO SIMILAR LEGAL OBLIGATION ON THE OFFICIALS FOR THE IR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE.
FOURTH, THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING SERVICES, SUCH AS FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION, ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING, JUST AS THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE BUILDING FOUNDATION AND STRUCTURE, SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDED BY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, THE INTEGRITY OF THESE SERVICES IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AND VITAL, MR. CHEN SAID.
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