XN000022-1973-06-20 — Page 18

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Wednesday, June 20, 1973.

"However, the wisdom of siting a licensed area with its flimsy huts

and large population at the foot of such a high man-made slope in the face of

Hong Kong's monsoonal climate must be questioned," he said.

Mr. Szeto shared the view of the commission that all excavation works

should be programmed and be approved by the Building Authority to prevent

exposure of large and dangerous cutting faces during wet seasons.

But he further recommended that owners of existing developments

involving cut slopes of considerable height should be required to submit sta-

bility certificates by qualified engineers at suitable intervals.

This was because most cut slopes lacked maintenance after they were

formed, and the chunam membrane commonly used in Hong Kong was vulnerable to

cracks through which rainwater could penetrate, he explained.

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