MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1993
DR MALONE POINTED OUT THAT MANY PRIVATE FLAT OWNERS ARE STILL NOT AWARE OF THEIR DUTY TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, DESPITE A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE (GEO) FOLLOWING THE RAINSTORMS LAST YEAR.
"CONSULTATION HAS REVEALED THAT WHILST ACCEPTING THE NEED то KEEP THEIR BUILDINGS IN GOOD REPAIR, MANY PRIVATE OWNERS THINK THAT 'THE GOVERNMENT' IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF ALL SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN PRIVATE PROPERTY," HE ADDED.
IN VIEW OF THIS ATTITUDE, DR MALONE CONTINUED, THE GEO WOULD MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE OF "KEEP YOUR SLOPES SAFE".
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SINCE THE RAINSTORMS LAST YEAR, PUBLICITY LEAFLETS ON SLOPE MAINTENANCE HAVE BEEN SENT TO HUNDREDS OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND MAJOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.
THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL FLAT OWNERS
IN SELECTED BUILDING ADJACENT TO SLOPES HAVE BEEN SENT LEAFLETS IN A SYSTEMATIC PROGRAMME.
THE GEO HAS ALSO SENT FOLLOW-UP LETTERS URGING OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND MANAGEMENT FIRMS TO TAKE ACTION то INSPECT AND MAINTAIN THEIR SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS EVERY YEAR.
"THE LEAFLETS EXPLAIN THAT ANNUAL INSPECTION CAN EASILY BR CARRIED OUT BY THE OWNERS THEMSELVES OR THEIR BUILDING MANAGERS.
"ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WORK REQUIRES ONLY SIMPLE JOBS, SUCH AS CLEARING BLOCKED DRAINS AND REPAIRING DAMAGED SLOPE SURFACING MATERIALS. THESE WORKS CAN BE HANDLED AT LOW COST BY GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS, DR MALONE NOTED.
DR MALONE REMINDED FLAT OWNERS THAT COPIES OF THE LEAFLETS CONTAINING GUIDELINES ON MAINTENANCE OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST VIA THE GEO MAINTENANCE HOT-LINE (TEL 762 5165).
TURNING ΤΟ THE WORK OF THE GEO, DR MALONE SAID ABOUT $70 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT BY THE DEPARTMENT DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR TO UPGRADE 67 GOVERNMENT SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD UNDERTAKEN A CONTINUOUS PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS IDENTIFIED BY ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS AS BEING NOT UP TO A SUFFICIENT STANDARD OF SAFETY,
SINCE 1976, ABOUT $1 BILLION HAD BEEN SPENT ON STUDIES AND WORKS ΤΟ UPGRADE HUNDREDS OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS UNDER THE PROGRAMME. DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, EXPENDITURE FOR SLOPE WORKS AMOUNTED TO $73 MILLION.
IN ADDITION TO SLOPE UPGRADING WORK INITIATED AND EXECUTED BY THE GEO, A GREAT DEAL OF SLOPE WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS.
/DR MALONE