XN000022-1977-08-23 — Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1977

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BUILDINGS IN WESTERN DECLARED DANGEROUS

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NOS. 10 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 2 TSUI ON LANE, 11 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 1 TSUI ON LANE AND 127-133 HOLLYWOOD ROAD LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT AN OLD WALL SUPPORTING CIRCULAR PATHWAY BETWEEN QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL AND HOLLYWOOD ROAD APPEARS TO BE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF COLLAPSE.

+WATER, FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE, IS CLEARLY EXERTING PRESSURE ON THIS WALL, WHICH IS BULGING. SUBSIDENCE AND CRACKS HAVE OCCURRED IN CIRCULAR PATHWAY= THE CRACKS ARE NOTICEABLY WIDENING AND EXTENDING, HE SAID.

+SOME OF THE CRACKING IS EXTENDING ADJACENT TO NOS. 10 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 2 TSUI ON LANE, HE ADDED.

CRACKS HAVE ALSO OPENED IN THE GROUND BETWEEN CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND THE BUILDING AT NOS. 127-133 HOLLYWOOD ROAD (WHICH IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL).

+THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS OLD WALL MAY COLLAPSE AT ANY TIME AND THAT IF IT DOES, CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND THE ADJO IN ING LAND WILL ALSO COLLAPSE.

+ THE FULL EXTENT OF SUCH A COLLAPSE CANNOT ACCURATELY BE PREDICTED BUT THE BUILDINGS AT 10 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 2 TSUT ON LANE, 11 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 1 TSUI ON LANE AND 127-133 HOLLYWOOD ROAD COULD IN THIS EVENT BE AT RISK.

+THE P.W.D. GEOTECHNICAL OFFICE, WITH CONSULTANTS, IS STUDYING THE PROBLEM IN ORDER THAT REMEDIAL WORK MAY BE COMMENCED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

+BECAUSE OF THIS RISK IT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED THAT NOS. 10 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 2 TSUI ON LANE, 11 CIRCULAR PATHWAY AND 1 TSUI ON LANE AND 127-133 HOLLYWOOD ROAD ARE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS AND THEREFORE NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 4.30 P.M. TODAY (TUESDAY) WERE POSTED.

+ IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE BUILDINGS WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WHEN REMEDIAL WORK HAS REMOVED THE DANGER,+ HE SAID.

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