WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985
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+THE DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING UNIFORMED AND PLAINCLOTHES POLICE COVERAGE IN KCR STATIONS AND ON THE TRAINS REMAINS WITH THE DISTRICT COMMANDERS OF MONG KOK, KOWLOON CITY, SHA TIN AND FRONTIER DISTRICTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE IN 1984 SHOWED THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS WERE WORKING WELL AND THAT A CHANGE IN THE COMMAND STRUCTURE WAS NOT JUSTIFIED.
+THESE FINDINGS WERE CONFIRMED IN A SECOND REVIEW COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
MEASURES TAKEN TO CURB ILLEGAL FLATS
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SEVERAL MEASURES WERE BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CURB AND PREVENT PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE SALE OF FLATS WHICH HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY SUB-DIVIDED OR MODIFIED, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY,
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON S.L. CHEN ON MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT INNOCENT PURCHASERS FROM BEING VICTIMISED, MR CHAN SAID: +FIRST, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ON DISCOVERING SÚCH UNAUTHORISED ALTERATIONS WOULD ISSUE A NOTICE UNDER SECTION 24(1) OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, REQUIRING THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE TO BE DEMOLISHED AND THE PROPERTY TO BE RESTORED TO ITS FORMER CONDITION.
+A NOTICE OF THIS KIND IS REGISTERED IN THE LAND OFFICE AND THUS ANY INTENDING PURCHASER WOULD BE PUT ON NOTICE OF THE MATTER IF HE MAKES A SEARCH OF THE PROPERTY IN THE LAND OFFICE.+
MODERN LEASE CONDITIONS INVARIABLY INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND AN UNAUTHORISED SUB-DIVISION AMOUNTED TO A BREACH OF THE LEASE CONDITIONS AND SUBJECT TO RE-ENTRY ENFORCEMENT ACTION, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD ALSO STEPPED UP PUBLICITY TO WARN THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE RISKS OF BUYING FLATS WHICH HAD BEEN ALTERED OR ERECTED IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
+ IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF EVERY CONSUMER TO MAKE ALL APPROPRIATE ENQUIRIES BEFORE PURCHASING A FLAT, TO CONSULT A SOLICITOR OR AN AUTHORISED PERSON, AND IN CASE OF DOUBT TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY WITH THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, MR CHAN SAID.
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