XN000022-1979-10-11 — Page 10

9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1979

SEVEN BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL DECLARED DANGEROUS

*****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (THURSDAY) DECLARED SEVEN BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.

THEY ARE NOS. 3 TO 13 BRIDGES STREET AND NO. 165 WING LOK STREET.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THE GROUP OF SIX FIVE-STOREY BUILDINGS IN BRIDGES STREET HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A CLOSE INVESTIGATION BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THESE BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS AND WERE COMPLETED IN 1952.

HE SAID: +INSPECTIONS ON OCTOBER 9 AND 10 REVEALED THAT SERIOUS SUBSIDENCE OF THE TWO-STOREY REAR KITCHEN BLOCKS IS OCCURRING. FRACTURES OPENING UP WITHIN THE BUILDINGS INDICATE THAT THERE IS SERIOUS RISK OF COLLAPSE. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS.+

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON OCTOBER 19 WERE POSTED TODAY.

REGARDING THE BUILDING IN WING LOK STREET, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THE FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING HAD BEEN UNDER REGULAR OBSERVATION SINCE 1974. THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING WALLS AND TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF.

+RECENT INSPECTIONS HAVE SHOWN THAT SERIOUS MOVEMENT IS OCCURRING IN THE REAR MAIN WALL. AS IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A RISK OF COLLAPSE IT IS NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING, HE SAID.

ACCORDINGLY, A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN VICTORIA DISTRICT AT 9.30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 8 WAS POSTED TODAY.

1

/10

Page 10Page 11