XN000022-1981-11-11 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1981

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BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE PLANNED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING SETTING UP A BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP WHICH WILL PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE INTERCHANGE OF VIEWS ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN AND WILL HANDLE ALL PROPOSALS SUBMITTED REGARDING POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS OF PRACTICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS,

"R DAVID MCDONALD, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO COMMENTS MADE BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN ABOUT THE TIME TAKEN BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE TO APPROVE BUILDING PLANS AND ISSUE OCCUPATION PERMITS, AND TO HER SUGGESTIONS THAT PROCEDURES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE BE SIMPLIFIED AND IMPROVED.

MR MCDONALD SAID THAT SINCE OCTOBER 1976, THE BOO HAD BEEN USING A CENTRAL PROCESSING SYSTEM, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE TIME TAKEN TO OBTAIN APPROVALS OF SUBMISSIONS.

+DURING THE JULY TO SEPTEMBER QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, OF THE 4 427 PLAN SUBMISSIONS DEALT WITH, ONLY ONE EXCEEDED THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF 60 DAYS AND 3 062 PROPOSALS WERE APPROVED.

+DURING THE SAME QUARTER, OF THE 173 APPLICATIONS FOR OCCUPATION PERMITS, ALL BUT TWO WERE DEALT WITH WITHIN THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS AND 151 WERE ISSUED.

THE SERVICE WOULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED, HE SAID.

MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE ITSELF WAS KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEN BY A COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES, AND OTHER REGULAR DEPARTMENTAL LIAISON MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH AUTHORISED PERSONS, THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION AND THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION.

THE ICAC HAD PROVIDED VALUABLE ADVICE ON NEW PROCEDURES TO SIMPLIFY AND SPEED UP HANDLING TIMES AND WAS STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL MEASURES, HE SAID.

DISCUSSIONS WERE ALSO BEING HELD WITH THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS ON OTHER METHODS FOR SPEEDING UP PROCEDURES, KE SAID.

MR. MCDONALD