XN000022-1981-08-25 — Page 10

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1981

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AIRCRAFT CRASH AND RESCUE EXERCISE

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AN AIRCRAFT CRASH AND RESCUE EXERCISE WILL SOON BE HELD AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO PROVIDE CONTINUATION TRAINING AND FAMILIARISATION IN AIRPORT CRASH AND RESCUE TECHNIQUES FOR AGENCIES WHO WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.

TAKING PART IN THE EXERCISE WILL BE STAFF OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL PROVIDE PERSONNEL TO ACT AS PASSENGERS AND CASUALTIES AT THE SCENE.

IN ORDER TO TEST THE ALERTNESS OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN EMERGENCIES, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE EXERCISE CANNOT BE GIVEN IN ADVANCE. A SIMULATED ACCIDENT INVOLVING A PASSENGER AIRCRAFT ON FIRE AT THE AIRPORT WILL TRIGGER OFF THE EXERCISE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM, ALTHOUGH, OF NECESSITY, FIRE APPLIANCES, AMBULANCES AND POLICE VEHICLES WOULD BE RUSHING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT DURING THE EXERCISE.

BUILDINGS DECLARED IN DANGEROUS STATE

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 2B AND NOS. 9 TO 25 (ODD NUMBERS) KAU HUT CHIK KAI, TAI PO TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THESE BUILDINGS HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSPECTED FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT.

NO. 2B CONSISTS OF A GROUP OF TWO-STOREY AND SINGLE-STOREY VILLAGE TYPE HOUSES WHEREAS NOS. 9 TO 25 ARE A TERRACE OF SINGLE-STOREY VILLAGE HOUSES.

+NUMEROUS STRUCTURAL CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE LOADBEARING WALLS OF THESE BUILDINGS AND THERE WERE ALSO SIGNS OF MOVEMENT IN THESE WALLS.

+THE ROOFS OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH TILES ON CHINA FIR ROOF JOISTS. MANY OF THE JOISTS WERE IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF DECAY. CERTAIN PARTS OF THE ROOFS HAD PARTIALLY COLLAPSED, + A SPOKESMAN SAID.

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

ACCORDINGLY, NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1981, WERE POSTED TODAY.