Enforcement policy of priorities is reasonable and fair
The Government has already reviewed the Buildings Department's enforcement policy of priorities based on degree of danger and is satisfied that the department has been able to achieve the objectives of protecting public safety on the one hand and containing the problem of unauthorised building works on the other, the Director of Buildings, Mrs Helen Yu, said today (Wednesday).
She was responding to the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (COMAC), Mr Andrew So's latest comments on his direct investigation report on the unauthorised building works.
She said the Government had reaffirmed the policy as reasonable and realistic, thus fair and appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and with the available
resources.
On illegal rooftop structures, she said, the Government's long-term objective was to clear all illegal rooftop structures by encouraging occupants to apply for public housing and to demolish their illegal structures. "However, Government's prime concern is public safety and danger may arise from any type of unauthorised building works. Illegal rooftop structures should not be singled out," she said.
Meanwhile, the Government continues to tackle the problem by an overall three-prong approach, namely, containment by enforcement on priorities; deterrence by legal and disciplinary action; and promotion of awareness and attitude change by public education and public information efforts.
"The policy of priorities is only one element in Government's general strategy for tackling unauthorised building works. Government action against unauthorised building works cannot, and should not, be assessed by the enforcement policy alone," she said.
Regarding advertising signs, Mrs Yu said the primary concern of the Government on advertising signs was again safety. Action to date on dangerous or potentially dangerous signs has been effective.
"Government has examined carefully the feasibility and desirability of introducing a licensing system for regulating overhanging signboards and concluded that it would be resource-intensive and extremely costly. The existing measures to control overhanging signboards are generally adequate and additional regulatory measures would not be necessary."
Page 10Page 11