XN000022-1982-02-23 — Page 4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982

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MID-LEVELS STATUTORY MORATORIUM EXTENDED

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE STATUTORY MORATORIUM ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN THE MID-LEVELS FOR A FURTHER FOUR MONTHS.

A RESOLUTION SEEKING THE EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) ORDINANCE UNTIL JULY 31 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MARCH 10.

THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN MAY 1979 TO ENABLE A DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT TO ESTABLISH WHAT RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS WERE NEEDED FOR FUTURE BUILDING WORKS IN THE AREA. THE ORDINANCE WAS DUE TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 1981.

FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE SURVEY, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER THAT THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT WOULD PROBABLY BE LIFTED THIS YEAR BUT THAT NEW WORKS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HILLSIDES AFFECTED.

THE ORDINANCE WAS EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 31 TO ENABLE NEW REGULATIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO BE INTRODUCED SO THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE APPROPRIATE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS SAID THEN THAT THE EXTENSION WAS NECESSARY TO ALLOW TIME FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIONS, DRAFTING OF THE NEW LEGISLATION, CONSIDERATION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND DEBATE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IN HIS SPEECH PROPOSING THE RESOLUTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 9, HE SAID THE STATUTORY MORATORIUM WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN IN FORCE FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AND HE HOPED THAT IT WOULD PROVE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE NEW REGULATIONS MADE AND TO INTRODUCE THE AMENDING BILL IN TIME FOR ITS ENACTMENT WITHIN THIS PERIOD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID, BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NEW LEGISLATION, MORE TIME WAS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE DRAFTING PROCESS AND FOR THE PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED PROPERLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS

IMPOSED BY THE BUDGET SITTINGS.

THE PROPOSED