XN000022-1979-02-05 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1979

INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN KWAI CHUNG DECLARED DANGEROUS

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (MONDAY) DECLARED NO.66-72 LEI MUK ROAD, KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE SAID THIS 12-STOREY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, CARRIED OUT BY THE OWNER ON THE ORDER OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY AFTER SHEAR CRACKS HAD BEEN FOUND IN THE REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS,

THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED THE EXTRACTION OF SAMPLES FROM REINFORCED CONCRETE FOR TESTING, EXPOSING REINFORCING STEEL AND ANALYSIS OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE CONCRETE.

+NEARLY NINETY PER CENT OF THE SAMPLES WERE FOUND TO BE SUB-STANDARD AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES INDICATED THAT THE CONCRETE WAS LESS THAN HALF OF THE REQUIRED STRENGTH,

+THE REINFORCEMENT STEEL PROVIDED WAS SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT REQUIRED BY THE APPROVED DESIGN. FURTHERMORE, THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A DEFICIENCY IN CEMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+AS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE LEADING TO COLLAPSE IT IS NECESSARY TO CLOSE THIS BUILDING, HE EXPLAINED.

A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON APRIL 2, 1979 WAS POSTED TODAY, HE ADDED.

NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE

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A FORMER SENIOR OFFICER WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, MRS. ANSON CHAN, TODAY (MONDAY) TAKES UP HER NEW POST AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

MRS. CHAN SUCCEEDS MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN WHO HAS GONE ON VACATION LEAVE.

SHE WAS FORMERLY A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WAS ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.

MRS. CHAN HAS SERVED WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR 16 YEARS. HER PREVIOUS POSTS INCLUDE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MRS. CHAN WAS PROMOTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B LAST YEAR.

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