XN000022-1974-09-20 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1974

BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 10 MERCER STREET ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NO. 8 MERCER STREET LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS AND REQUIRING DEMOLITION.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THESE FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION FOR SOME YEARS.

RECENT INSPECTIONS MADE REVEAL THAT FOLLOWING DEMOLITION OF THE ADJOINING BUILDINGS AND DESPITE EXTENSIVE SHORING THE LOAD BEARING BRICK PARTY WALL BETWEEN NOS. 10 AND 12 SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTINUING MOVEMENT WITH SEVERE FRACTURES AND BULGING OF THE BRICKWORK.

IT IS CONSIDERED THAT ANY FURTHER MOVEMENT IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN FAILURE LEADING TO A COLLAPSE, WHILE THE CONDITION OF NO. 8 IS SUCH THAT THERE IS A RISK OF SIMILAR FAILURE DURING OR AFTER THE DEMOLITION OF NO. 10.

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERXS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON OCTOBER 21 WERE POSTED TODAY.

WATER SITUATION REPORT

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THE TOTAL WATER STORAGE IN ALL RESERVOIRS AS AT 9 A.M. TODAY (FRIDAY) STOOD AT 36,315 MILLION GALLONS, REPRESENTING 54 PER CENT OF THE FULL CAPACITY OF 67,300 MILLION GALLONS. AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR THERE WERE 66,452 MILLION GALLONS IN STORE.

THIS MORNING'S STORAGE AT PLOVER COVE WAS 27,814 MILLION GALLONS, COMPARED WITH 50,533 MILLION GALLONS ON THE SAME DAY LAST YEAR. PLOVER COVE'S PRESENT STORAGE REPRESENTS 55.1 PER CENT OF ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 50,500 MILLION GALLONS.

3.5 M.M. CO.14 IN) RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS ENDING AT 9 A.M. TODAY. TOTAL RAINFALL RECORDED SO FAR THIS YEAR IS 1,365.7 MM (53.77 IN).

THE MEAN AVERAGE RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY 1 STANDS AT 1,905 MM C75 IN), REPRESENTING A SHORTFALL OF 28.3 PER CENT.

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