XN000022-1977-09-18 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1977

WARNINGS AGAINST ILLEGAL ALTERATION TO BUILDINGS

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SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. ROBERT UPTON, TODAY WARNED OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF FLATS AND HOUSES IN THE DISTRICT AGA INST MAKING UNAUTHORISED EXTENSIONS OR ALTERATIONS TO THEIR PROPERTIES.

MR. UPTON SAID HE WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT APPARENTLY DID NOT REALISE THAT OFFICIAL APPROVAL WAS REQUIRED FOR ALL ALTERATIONS.

+MORE AND MORE CASES ARE COMING TO LIGHT WHERE ILLEGAL EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO BUILDINGS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF SAI KUNG, HE SAID.

+ IN MANY CASES, THE MODIFICATIONS NOT ONLY BREACH LEASE CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.+

MR. UPTON EXPLAINED THAT IN SOME RECENT CASES, BALCONIES HAD BEEN EXTENDED, STRUCTURES ADDED AND, IN SOME OF THE WORST CASES, ADDITIONAL STOREYS HAD BEEN BUILT ON TOP OF THE APPROVED BUILDINGS.

+THESE MODIFICATIONS CAN BE STRUCTURALLY DANGEROUS, FIRE HAZARDS OR DETRACT FROM THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.

+DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF ARE CURRENTLY MAKING A SURVEY OF ALL HOUSES AND FLATS ON RURAL BUILDING LOTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT SO THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE RECORDS TO MAKE CHECKS FOR UNAUTHORISED MOD IF ICATIONS MUCH SIMPLER.

+WE ARE ALREADY MAKING REGULAR CHECKS AND WE EXPECT THAT WITH THE NEW RECORDS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TIGHTEN UP CONSIDERABLY ON THESE UNAPPROVED WORKS.+

MR. UPTON SAID THAT THE COURSES OF ACTION OPEN TO THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDED DEMOLITION OF THE ILLEGAL WORKS BY GOVERNMENT STAFF OR LEGAL ACTION TO REPOSSESS THE PROPERTY,

AND, HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT NORMALLY CONSIDER GRANTING RETROSPECTIVE APPROVAL FOR UNAUTHORISED WORKS.

+EVEN IF WE WANTED TO MODIFY THE LEASE CONDITIONS, ONCE BUILDING WORKS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT AN ARCHITECT WILL NOT NORMALLY SIGN PLANS AND THEREFORE THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE CANNOT APPROVE THEM,+ MR. UPTON SAID,

+EACH CASE DISCOVERED IN THE CURRENT SURVEY WILL BE CONSIDERED INDIVIDUALLY, BECAUSE LEASE CONDITIONS VARY FROM CASE TO CASE.

+BUT WE MUST TAKE FIRM ACTION TO STOP THIS PROBLEM. +

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