9
FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993
"THE OPERATION WAS AGAIN
EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. OUT OF THE 6.800 ADVISORY LETTERS ISSUED, 55 PER CENT OF THEM RESULTED IN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
"THIS HAS SAVED US BOTH TIME AND RESOURCES IN MAKING OWNERSHIP CHECKS AND SERVING STATUTORY ORDERS, HE SAID.
MR CHEN SAID A SIMILAR OPERATION, CODE-NAMED "ROLLING STONE", WOULD BE LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH.
EMPOWERS THE APPOINT AN BUILDINGS, MR UNDER WAY IN
TURNING TO THE NEWLY AMENDED LEGISLATION THAT BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PROPERTY OWNERS TO AUTHORISED PERSON TO INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED DEFECTIVE CHEN SAID A PILOT SCHEME USING THESE NEW POWERS WAS SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL AREAS, NAMELY TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG, YAU TONG AND KWUN TONG.
"THIS NEW LEGISLATION WAS FOUND NECESSARY BECAUSE IT BE TOO LATE TO TAKE ACTION IF DEFECTS ARE DISCOVERED AT A STAGE, AND THE DETERIORATION MAY CAUSE REAL DANGER TO AND PASSERS-BY," HE SAID.
BOTH
MAY WELL
VERY LATE
OCCUPANTS
WAN CHAI BUILDING DECLARED DANGEROUS
* * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (FRIDAY) DECLARED A SIX-STOREY BUILDING AT 139 THOMSON ROAD IN WAN CHAI TO BE DANGEROUS.
IN A
STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SAID THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMED BUILDING WAS SERVED BY A SINGLE STAIRCASE.
IT HAS A COCKLOFT FOR STORAGE PURPOSES WITH THE APPROVED ACCESS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR SHOP.
RECENT INSPECTION, MADE UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT, HAS REVEALED THAT AN UNAUTHORISED OPENING HAD BEEN FORMED IN THE STAIRCASE ENCLOSURE WALL AT COCKLOPT LEVEL.
IN
IT HAS RESULTED IN A SEVEN-STOREY SINGLE STAIRCASE BUILDING DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE "CODE OF PRACTICE FOR MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE"
THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE UPPER FLOORS HAS BEEN
AFFECTED.
THE APPROVED STAIRCASE TO THE COCKLOFT HAS ALSO BEEN REMOVED AND THE COCKLOFT IS NOW BEING USED FOR OFFICE PURPOSES.
AS THE UNAUTHORISED OPENING IS POSING AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK то THE OCCUPANTS OF THE UPPER FLOORS, THE BUILDING HAS THEREFORE BEEN RENDERED DANGEROUS, AND SHOULD BE CLOSED UNTIL HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.
REINSTATEMENT
WORKS
/THE OWNER
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