XN000022-1981-03-10 — Page 4

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1981

3

CLEARANCE BEGINS OF ILLEGAL ADDITIONS

TO TUEN MUN BUILDINGS

*****

AN OPERATION TO CLEAR ILLEGAL ADDITIONS TO BUILDINGS IN TUEN MUN STARTED TODAY (TUESDAY).

STAFF OF THE 16-MAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT OF TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE WERE JOINED BY HOUSING DEPARTMENT SQUATTER CONTROL AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL IN CLEARING ADDITIONS TO TWO MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD.

IN AN OPERATION LASTING SEVERAL HOURS, A NUMBER OF ILLEGAL PODIUM STRUCTURES WERE DEMOLISHED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST OTHER BUILDINGS IN TUEN MUN WHERE BREACHES IN LEASE CONDITIONS OCCURRED. UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORK ON CROWN LAND WILL ALSO BE CLEARED.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT WAS SET UP IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE THREE MONTHS AGO TO COMBAT THE GROWING PROBLEM OF LEASE CONDITION CONTRAVENTIONS.

LETTERS WERE SENT TO OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF BUILDINGS WHERE CONTRAVENTIONS WERE FOUND SEEKING THEIR CO-OPERATION IN CLEARING ILLEGAL EXTENSIONS AND ADDITIONS.

+WE ARE PLEASED THAT MOST CO-OPERATED AND DEALT WITH THE ALTERATIONS THEMSELVES, BUT OTHERS IGNORED OUR APPEAL,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID CLEARANCE ACTION WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE ILLEGAL EXTENSIONS WERE NOT ONLY BREACHING LEASE CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO AFFECTING VENTILATION AND COULD HINDER RESCUE OPERATIONS IN CASES OF FIRE.

+AS THE NEW TOWN IS RAPIDLY TAKING SHAPE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENFORCE CONDITIONS OF GRANT OR LEASE BEFORE THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, HE SAID.

O

14....