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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1991
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OF THE REMAINING 16,700 BUILDINGS,
TOTAL OF 3,953 INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED, RESULTING IN THE SERVING OF 2,701 REPAIR ORDERS AND 66 CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION ORDERS AS AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
THE SPOKESMAN DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE BUILDINGS IN THE GROUP BEING SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION ORDERS, AS WELL AS OTHERS BEING SERVED WITH REPAIR ORDERS, ONCE INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT.
HE SAID IT HAD LONG BEEN KNOWN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM REGARDING THE DETERIORATION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY PUT UP IN THE EARLY POST-WAR YEARS.
THOSE
"THE REASONS FOR THE RAPID DETERIORATION OF THESE CONCRETE BUILDINGS, IN SUCH A SHORT-TIME SPAN OF LESS THAN
40 YEARS, MAY BE DUE TO INFERIOR QUALITY MATERIALS, IMPURITIES IN WATER CONTENT AND POOR WORKMANSHIP IN THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION," HE ADDED.
BY OVERLOADING, NEGLECT OF
"THE CONDITION MAY ALSO BE AGGRAVATED WEATHERING IN A POLLUTED ATMOSPHERE AND AN ALMOST TOTAL MAINTENANCE AFTER CONSTRUCTION, HE SAID.
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COMMENTING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE OVERALL EXERCISE ON BUILDING INSPECTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WERE STILL SOME 12,750 BUILDINGS. FROM THE ORIGINAL 16,700 TO BE INSPECTED WHICH WAS A LONG WAY TO GO DESPITE THE BOO'S EFFORTS IN STEPPING UP THE ACTION.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT FROM EVIDENCE OBTAINED SO FAR, IT APPEARED THAT GENERALLY OWNERS OF PRIVATE SECTOR BUILDINGS WERK STILL NOT PREPARED TO CARRY OUT BASIC MAINTENANCE ΤΟ THEIR PREMISES ALTHOUGH IT WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE BUILDING SAFETY.
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HE QUOTED THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS AS SAYING EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT ON THE PRESSURE SIDE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXAMINING NEW POWERS WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ΤΟ REQUIRE OWNERS TO HAVE INSPECTIONS AND SURVEYS OF THEIR BUILDINGS CARRIED OUT, TO PRODUCE CERTIFICATES OF STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE WAS OF THE VIEW THAT BUILDING OWNERS SHOULD DO MORE TO COMPLEMENT THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY FOR WHICH HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD PROVIDE ADVICE ΤΟ OWNERS AND TO BRING HOME THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES CLEARLY.
TO THIS END, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY PRODUCED A PUBLICITY LEAFLET, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY WITH USEFUL INFORMATION CONCERNING BUILDING CHECK-UP AND REPAIR.
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HE ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE COPY OF TWO BOOKLETS THAT CONTAIN THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORISED PERSONS/ REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND REGISTERED CONTRACTORS WHO WOULD ASSIST OWNERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUILDINGS.
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