XN000022-1977-01-21 — Page 8

7-

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1977

TWO PRE-WAR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS

******

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED TWO BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ORDERED THAT THEY BE DEMOLISHED.

THE BUILDINGS ARE NO. 321 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL AND NO. 38 GAGE STREET BOTH OF WHICH WERE CONSTRUCTED OF LOAD- BEARING BRICK WALLS WITH TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF.

THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE BUILDING IN QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL BY A REPORT THAT ONE OF THE FLOORS WAS IN A DEFECTIVE CONDITION.

DETAILED INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE REPORTED FLOOR WAS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE AND THE INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED EXTENSIVE SIGNS OF MOVEMENT IN THE MAIN WALLS.

+IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A DANGER OF GENERAL COLLAPSE OF THE BUILDING, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO NO. 38 GAGE STREET, HE SAID THAT ATTENTION WAS FIRST DRAWN TO THE BUILDING MORE THAN 12 YEARS AGO WHEN THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ORDERED THAT THE KITCHEN BLOCK SHOULD BE REPAIRED.

+A RECENT INSPECTION INDICATED THAT TIMBERS IN THE MAIN ROOF AND BALCONIES ARE DEFECTIVE AND IT IS CONSIDERED THAT LOCALISED FAILURES COULD OCCUR THERE, HE SAID.

+THE BUILDING IS, HOWEVER, SO GENERALLY DILAPIDATED THAT THERE IS A DANGER OF ANY SUCH FAILURE LEADING TO A GENERAL COLLAPSE.+

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 25 WERE POSTED TODAY.

APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY AIR COMMODORE OF RHKAAF

*****

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED WING COMMANDER GORDON BELL AS THE HONORARY AIR COMMODORE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE. HE SUCCEEDS MR. R.P. SMITH.

THE APPOINTMENT CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 15.

-

-

·