XN000022-1973-06-20 — Page 20

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Wednesday, June 20, 1973

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Regardless of this, the same site was allowed to be redeveloped in

another way in early January 1971 to provide an increase of 36 flats, all

with car parks.

"How else could this have been effected except at the expense of

safety for all?" she asked.

The rock-cutting slope was increased to 80.5 degrees, she said,

and the new architect's statement that the elope was of rock appeared to

have passed unchecked and unchallenged.

"The carelessness of those concerned the architect, the developers,

the relevant staff of the Public Works Department was in strange contrast

to the many expressions of alarm.by residents of the Po Shan Road area," she

said.

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"Another factor of human weakness was the desire to make money quickly

by pressing ahead with the development without any consideration for the safety

of those hapless people living nearby."

Mrs. Symons stressed that in Hong Kong, with its "occasional immaturity

concerning public welfare, the government must assume even more responsibility

in the regulations concerning" architectural work.

The average citizen, she emphasised, had an inalienable right to

expect the government to provide adequate provisions for safety to withstand

torrential rain similar to that of last year.“

Referring to the Sau Mau Ping-landslide site, Mrs. Symons said that

while the catastrophy was of major proportions, there appeared to be less evidence

of human error, according to the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the

two landslide disasters.

The Commissioners concluded that the landslip in this area was mainly

due to the softening of the ground as a result of the exceptionally long and

intense rainstorms.

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