XN000022-1974-04-09 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1974

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A PERSONAL MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY HAS BEEN SENT FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TO MRS. SELLERS. SIMILAR MESSAGES HAVE ALSO BEEN SENT BY HIS COLLEAGUES AND BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. JAMES MCGREGUR, HAS ALSO EXPRESSED HIS SORROW AND THAT OF HIS CULLEAGUES IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, IN WHICH 12 YEARS OF MR. SELLERS' SERVICE WAS SPENT, AND IN WHICH HE HAD GAINED A HIGH REPUTATION FOR HIS WORK IN TRADE NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG.

33 TAIPO STRUCTURES DECLARED DANGEROUS

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THIRTY-THREE BUILDINGS, ERECTED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO AS TEMPURARY STRUCTURES ALONG PAK SHING STREET IN TAIPO, WERE TODAY DECLARED TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.

THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT A DETAILED INSPECTION OF THESE BUILDINGS WAS MADE RECENTLY FOLLOWING A REPORT OF DEFECTS.

SUBSTRUCTURE

+IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REINFORCED CONCRETE HAD DETERIORATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THERE IS A RISK OF FAILURE LEADING TO A COLLAPSE, HE SAID.

+EXTENSIVE SPALLING OF THE CONCRETE TOGETHER WITH SEVERE CORROSION OF THE STEEL REINFORCEMENT WHICH IS EXPOSED TO SATURATION FROM THE RIVER IN WHICH THE SUBSTRUCTURE IS FOUNDED, LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE SO EXTENSIVE AS *TO BE IMPRACTICAL AND UNREALISTIC.+

IN ADDITION, IN PORTIONS THE BUILDINGS HAVE SETTLED AND

THE WALLS FRACTURED, HE SAID.

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS OF NOS. 1-33 PAK SHING STREET VERE POSTED TODAY. THE APPLICATION WILL BE HEARD IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON JUNE 11.

COMMENTING ON THE APPLICATION FOR CLOSURE ORDERS OF THE 33 STRUCTURES, A SPOKESMAN FÜR THE TAIPO DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY THAT AN ALTERNATE SITE, SITUATED BEHIND THE PLOVER COVE RE-HOUSING BLOCK, HAS BEEN OFFERED TO THESE 33 PERMIT HOLDERS.

A MEETING WILL BE ARRANGED SHORTLY BETWEEN THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GROUP TO DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE MOVE.

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