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Round-the-clock emergency services for dangerous buildings
The Buildings Department had received a total of 574 calls for emergency services to remove dangers from buildings during the 12 months preceding May this year, the acting Deputy Director of Buildings, Mr Ng Hon-keung, said today (Saturday).
About 18 per cent of the cases involved dangerous signs, 13 per cent on structural defects of buildings and about 10 per cent were related to dangerous appendages or canopies.
Other problems ranged from drainage defects, water leakage, dangerous scaffolding to loose external wall finishes.
Mr Ng said the department, in recognition of the importance of public safety, was committed to maintain a 24-hour services to the community.
"The department provides expert advice on private buildings and developments in case of danger. Our professional officers attending an emergency scene will make an initial assessment of the situation and decide what immediate action should be taken in order to restore public safety.
"In many cases, government contractors are called to carry out emergency works to remove dangers from the affected building," Mr Ng said.
During office hours, emergency calls are directed to the relevant case officers, while two professional officers are on emergency call on a rotation basis from the police control and command centre after office hours.
Mr Ng said the department had pledged a performance standard of inspecting and responding to any emergency situation within three hours.
"We are glad that in 1995, we had achieved a successful rate of 97.4 per cent of the response time. The shortfall was mainly due to the engagement of the duty officers in other emergency cases or heavy traffic condition," he said.
When tropical cyclone No 8 warning signal is hoisted or the rainstorm black warning is issued, or during major emergency situation, an emergency duty centre will be set up at the Buildings Department office.