WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982
12
BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL: NECESSARY FOR STABILITY
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SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL, THE HON PETER C. WONG, CONVENOR OF THE LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS, SAID BUILDING WORKS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA WOULD BE PERMITTED AFTER JULY 31 THIS YEAR IF THEY COMPLIED WITH THE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND STRINGENT CONTROLS STIPULATED IN THE BILL AND THE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE THEREUNDER.
THE BILL IS AIMED AT IMPROVING CONTROL OF BUILDING OPERATIONS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA TO SAFEGUARD THE STABILITY OF SLOPES,
UNDER THE BILL, HE SAID, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS EMPOWERED TO GRANT AUTHORITY TO A DEVELOPER TO CARRY OUT AND MAINTAIN GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE WORKS BENEATH PRIVATELY-OWNED LAND OUTS IDE AS WELL AS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT SITE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICE TO ADJOINING LAND OWNERS FOR THE MAKING OF OBJECTIONS AND FOR COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE.
→ALTHOUGH THE GROUP IS NOT GENERALLY IN FAVOUR OF STATUTORY PROVISIONS WHICH INFRINGE ON PRIVATE RIGHTS, WE ARE REASONABLY SATISFIED THAT IN THE PRESENT CASE THEY ARE NECESSARY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE STABILITY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THAT SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSE ARE ADEQUATE, SAID MR WONG.
APART FROM GEOTECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS, HE ADDED, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH REDEVELOPMENT MAY BE CONSIDERED DES IRABLE.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS CLOSELY.
THE HON MARIA TAM COMMENTED ON THE NEW SECTION RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OF A PERFORMANCE REVIEW IN RESPECT OF A BUILDING IN THE SCHEDULED AREA,
A PERFORMANCE REVIEW, SHE EXPLAINED, IS +A REPORT IN RESPECT OF BUILDING WORKS SUBMITTED BY AN AUTHORISED PERSON, STATING AND JUSTIFYING THAT THE BUILDING WORKS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND MONITORED IN THE COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AND THAT THE GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH THE BUILDING WORKS HAVE BEEN BASED ARE VAL ID+.
THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS HAD MADE REPRESENTATIONS ON THIS SECTION TO UMELCO, POINTING OUT THAT OVER 90 PER CENT OF AUTHORISED PERSONS ARE ARCHITECTS WHOSE ROLE IS TO CO-ORDINATE THE BUILDING WORKS.
THEY THOUGHT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPERVISING GEOTECHNICAL WORKS SHOULD BE PLACED SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDER OF A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER SO THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WOULD BE BETTER SERVED.
FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE REPRESENTATIONS, THE POSITION IN RESPECT OF THE PREPARATION OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW HAD BEEN CLAR IF IED.
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