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Seismic risks and building design
The following is a question by Dr the Hon Samuel Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today:
Question:
According to the "Code of Practice on Shock-proof Design in Buildings and other Constructions" adopted by the Chinese Government, Hong Kong is zoned in an area with the same seismic hazard as Shanghai. It was also pointed out in independent studies carried out and published in the territory that the zoning for Hong Kong as set out in the above-mentioned Code of Practice is reasonable. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:
Reply:
(a) what measures has the Government taken to reduce the damage caused by
seismic activity;
(b) whether the Government will require the relevant authorities to apply
additional rules in the design of low-rise buildings; and
(c) whether the Government will introduce or amend building design regulations requiring the design of Government or institutional buildings, as well as civil engineering projects such as bridges, power stations in the territory to withstand a certain degree of seismic hazard?
Mr President,
The answers to the three parts of Dr the Hon Samuel Wong's question are as
follows:
(a) To reduce the possible damage caused by seismic activity, the Building (Construction) Regulations require all private buildings to be designed to withstand the dynamic motion caused by a reference wind gust of 250 km/hr, and adequately restrained in both the superstructure and the foundation in such a manner that accidental damage to any structural member will only affect the local part of a building. The motion on buildings owing to seismic risk of Hong Kong is generally covered by the design requirements on wind load and structural stability.