-
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1983
GOVERNMENT ROLE IN PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
*****
ALTHOUGH PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT IS AN OWNER'S AFFAIR, ITS PROFOUND INFLUENCE UPON THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND THIRD PARTIES WARRANTS GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION, THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF YAU MA TEI, MR WILFRED WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+SOMETIMES MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS BECAME TOO COMPLICATED FOR PRIVATE MANAGEMENT BODY TO HANDLE EFFECTIVELY AND THIS IS WHERE OFFICIAL INTERVENTION SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED,+ HE ADDED.
LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, A TOTAL OF 30 937 CASES ON BUILDING MATTERS HAD BEEN HANDLED BY THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES OF CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
IT BECOMES QUITE CLEAR THAT THE TASKS OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT IN THE HONG KONG SITUATION IS OFTEN BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE OWNERS ACTING ON THEIR OWN AND SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS CALLED FOR, HE SAID.
MR WONG WAS SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN MANAGING PRIVATE BUILDING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE TSIM SHA TSUI KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION.
+MANY MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS WERE ERECTED WITHOUT ANY MODERN PLANNING CONCEPTS OR STANDARDISED GOVERNMENT CONTROL ON MANAGEMENT, HE SAID.
→THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND HIGH LAND VALUES VIRTUALLY PRECLUDED ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ADEQUATE AMENITIES OR ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION.+
HE RECALLED THAT IN 1960 A WORKING PARTY WAS SET UP AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDING (OWNERS' INCORPORATIONS) ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1970 TO ENCOURAGE THE FORMATION OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT MATTERS.
+SO FAR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE OLDER DOWNTOWN AREAS IS DISAPPOINTING, HE SAID,
+PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT BODIES, FORMAL OR INFORMAL ARE NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE; WHILST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THOUGH EQUIPPED WITH AUTHORITY TO ENSURE RUDIMENTARY BUILDING MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, ADOPT DIFFERENT PRIORITIES ON LAW AND LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS DUE TO SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES.
+THE TREND BECOMES OBVIOUS. BUILDINGS ARE DETERIORATING INTO PERMANENT SLUMS AND THREATENING THEIR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. MORE AND MORE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS SURFACED BUT LEFT UNCATERED.+
MR WONG LISTED A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR AN INCREASING NEED FOR GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN FOR MORE EFFECTIVE AND SPEEDY IMPROVEMENTS.
/* THE CLDER