WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1992
34
BILL TO REQUIRE OWNERS TO CHECK THEIR BUILDINGS IN PIPELINE
* * *
THE
THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO EMPOWER BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PRIVATE BUILDING OWNERS TO CARRY OUT DETAILED INSPECTIONS OF THEIR OWN BUILDINGS IS BEING DRAFTED.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR A.G. EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TO AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR
BASON SAID IT WAS INTENDED TO PUT THE BILL TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UNDER THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME, THE BUILDINGS WOULD CONDUCT PRELIMINARY SURVEYS OF BUILDINGS.
ORDINANCE OFFICE
ORDERS WOULD BE SERVED ON THE OWNERS OF BUILDINGS WHERE POTENTIAL DANGER WAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE PRELIMINARY SURVEYS REQUIRING THEM TO CARRY OUT DETAILED INSPECTIONS.
THE FULL DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME WERE STILL BEING FINALISED, MR EASON SAID.
"OUR PROPOSAL IS THAT THE OWNERS OF A BUILDING WILL BE REQUIRED ORDER TO APPOINT AN AUTHORISED PERSON TO CARRY OUT A DETAILED INSPECTION AND IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL WORKS.
BY
"THE LIST OF AUTHORISED PERSONS, BUT NOT DETAILS OF THEIR CHARGES, IS KEPT IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AND MAY BE INSPECTED THERE," MR EASON SAID.
ΤΟ HELP OWNERS FURTHER, MR EASON NOTED THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE HAD ALSO PREPARED A NON-STATUTORY LIST OF AUTHORISED PERSONS AND REGISTERED CONTRACTORS WHO WERE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE REPAIR WORKS.
A COPY OF THE LIST WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AND EVERY DISTRICT OFFICE.
INSPECTION IN
A DEFAULT PROVISION WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BILL WHEREBY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WOULD CARRY OUT THE REQUIRED INSPECTION IF AN OWNER FAILED TO COMPLY WITH AN ORDER AND WOULD RECOVER THE COST FROM HIM, THE SECRETARY ADDED.
THE
BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE MIGHT ALSO CARRY OUT DETAILED INSPECTIONS IN CASES WHERE OWNERS MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTIES, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, IN ORGANISING THEIR OWN, MR EASON SAID.
HOWEVER, THE INTENTION WAS TO RECOVER COSTS AND SECOND INSPECTIONS WERE NOT ENVISAGED AT PRESENT.
/THOSE EMPLOYED