XN000022-1979-07-04 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1979

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UNHCR'S DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER

SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE

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THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER, UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES, MR. DALE DE HAAN, HAS SENT A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE MR. JOHN SLIMMING.

IN A CABLE FROM GENEVA, MR. DE HAAN SAID IT WAS WITH THE DEEPEST REGRET THAT HE LEARNED OF THE DEATH OF MR. SLIMMING.

HE SAID HE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AND FRIENDLY SUPPORT OF MR. SLIMMING DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG AND WISHED TO EXTEND HIS SINCERE CONDOLENCES.

FOUR BUILDINGS IN WESTERN DECLARED DANGEROUS

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DECLARED FOUR BUILDINGS IN WESTERN DISTRICT TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION,

TWO ARE AT 243 AND 245 DES VOEUX ROAD WEST AND THE OTHER PAIR AT 196 AND 198 QUEEN'S ROAD WEST.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING ORDINANCE OFFICE SAID THE PAIR OF FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS IN DES VOEUX ROAD WEST HAD BEEN UNDER REGULAR OBSERVATION SINCE 1967.

THESE BUILDINGS ARE IN VERY POOR CONDITION AND ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING WALLS SUPPORTING REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND ROOFS. THE VERANDAHS OF NO. 245 WERE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED IN 1971.

+DURING RECENT INSPECTIONS SERIOUS OUTWARD MOVEMENT IN THE MAIN WALLS AND AN INCREASING DETERIORATION OF THE REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS HAS BEEN NOTED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+ IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A RISK OF COLLAPSE AND IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS HE ADDED.

ACCORDINGLY NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON AUGUST 1 WERE POSTED TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OTHER TWO THREE-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS HAD ALSO BEEN UNDER REGULAR OBSERVATION SINCE 1968.

THESE BUILDINGS ARE IN A GENERALLY POOR CONDITION AND ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEAR ING BRICK WALLS SUPPORTING TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOFS.

/+DURING RECENT