XN000022-1978-06-07 — Page 12

„EDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978

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SUPREME COURT TO BE VACATED

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TO SAFEGUARD THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING FROM FURTHER POSSIBLE DETERIORATION, MAJOR SHORING WORK IS TO BE CARRIED OUT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

AS THE SCALE OF THE INTERNAL SHORING CONSIDERED NECESSARY WOULD MAKE NORMAL USE OF THE COURTS IMPRACTICAL, THE BUILDING IS TO BE VACATED.

THE SUPREME COURT IS OF TRADITIONAL STONE AND BRICK CONSTRUCTIC" WITH LOAD BEARING WALLS SUPPORTED ON CHINA FIR PILES. BEFORE XTR STATION EXCAVATION BEGAN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE NORTH FACADE WAS BRACED BY THE MTR CONTRACTOR TO ALLOW THE STRUCTURE TO SUBSIDE UNIFORMLY IF SETTLEMENT WERE EXPERIENCED AND SO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.

AS EXCAVATION IN CHATER ROAD CONTINUED PROGRESSIVE SETTLEMENT WAS RECORDED AND EXTENSIVE SHORING WORK BECAME NECESSARY.

THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING TO THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTH CORRIDOR REMAINED STABLE WHILE THE REST OF THE BUILDING SETTLED CAUSING EXTENSIVE CRACKS ALONG THE LINE OF THE SOUTH CORRIDOR. MOVEMENT HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND IN THE STONE LANTERN OVER THE DOME, THE DOME ROOF AND THE NORTH CORRIDOR.

IN ADDITION TO THE TEMPORARY SUPPORT WORK ALREADY CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE BUILDING, ACTION TO MINIMISE SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE MTR CONTRACTOR IN THE FORM OF RE-WATERING WELLS TO MAINTAIN THE LOCAL WATER TABLE.

BECAUSE DEEPER EXCAVATION IS PROGRAMMED FOR AUGUST IN THE ADJACENT SECTIONS OF CHATER ROAD FURTHER SHORING AND STRUTTING WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

TO ALLOW THE JUDICIARY TO CONTINUE ITS WORK, PWD HAS UNDERTAKEN FITTING OUT WORKS TO VARIOUS BUILDINGS.

MEANWHILE,