SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1992
BUILDINGS NEED PROPER MAINTENANCE
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A BUILDING SAFETY CAMPAIGN UNDERLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS WAS LAUNCHED TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE CAMPAIGN, ORGANISED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, ADOPTS AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH IN REMINDING PROPERTY OWNERS THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY IN GOOD CONDITION AT ALL TIMES.
DR
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY HELD IN THE NEW TOWN PLAZA IN SHA TIN, DEPUTY CONVENER OF THE OMELCO LANDS AND WORKS PANEL, SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING то SEE THE MATTER OF MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS GET PROPER RECOGNITION.
HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS BY NO MEANS ONLY STRUCTURAL, BUT ALMOST ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERING CARRIED A MAINTENANCE COMMITMENT WHICH COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF IGNORED.
"WE CANNOT EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO INSPECT ALL BUILDINGS WITH THE FREQUENCY NECESSARY TO KEEP THEM SAFE. BUT OWNERS CAN," HE SAID.
ANOTHER OFFICIATING GUEST, ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR BOWEN LEUNG, STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER BUILDING REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE AS FAILURE ΤΟ DO SO WOULD SERIOUSLY JEOPARDISE NOT ONLY THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS BUT THAT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE NEED PUBLICITY ON BUILDING SAFETY BY PROMOTING SELF-DISCIPLINE AND CO-OPERATION AMONG BUILDING OWNERS.
TO INTENSIFY A SENSE OF
"THE DUTY OF BUILDING SAFETY RESTS ON BUILDING OWNERS. BUT, NEVERTHELESS EVERY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE
SAID.
TO COINCIDE WITH THE CAMPAIGN, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE HAS SET UP A NEW HOTLINE 848 2222 ADVISING THE PUBLIC ON BUILDING MAINTENANCE MATTERS.
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THE OFFICE ALSO ARRANGES SEMINARS WITH COMMUNITY BODIES AND ORGANISES EXHIBITIONS SHOWING THE GENERAL ASPECTS OF BUILDING SAFETY.
MEANWHILE, PUBLICITY MATERIAL CARRYING A MESSAGE ON "MAINTAIN YOUR BUILDING, KEEP IT SAFE" WILL BE PUT ACROSS TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE MEDIA.
THE CAMPAIGN NOTES THAT IF A BUILDING IS LEFT IN DISREPAIR, IT WILL DETERIORATE AND BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS, POSING A THREAT TO BOTH THE OCCUPANTS AND THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY CAN BE UPHELD IF IT IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED.
/TO LAUNCH