XN000022-1982-05-14 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1982

BILL ON ADDITIONAL GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS PUBLISHED

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A BILL SEEKING TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS ON BUILDING WORKS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY,

THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF BUILDING OPERATIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE STABILITY OF ADJACENT GROUND.

IF ENACTED, THE ORDINANCE TOGETHER WITH REGULATIONS MADE UNDER IT WILL ENABLE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO

*

LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF EXCAVATION DURING THE CARRYING OUT OF BUILDING WORK,

REQUIRE THE BUILDING WORKS BE CARRIED OUT IN A PARTICULAR SEQUENCE,

* ENABLE DUE CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE EFFECT

ON GROUND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM,

*

*

*

IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE WORKS,

REQUIRE A DEVELOPMENT TO BE DESIGNED TO RESIST LANDSLIP DEBRIS WHERE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY, AND

REQUIRE A PERFORMANCE REVIEW TO SHOW THAT THE GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH THE BUILDING WORKS HAVE BEEN BASED ARE VALID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ON ENACTMENT OF THE BILL THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) ORDINANCE WOULD BE REPEALED.

THE AREA TO WHICH THE NEW CONTROLS WILL APPLY EXTENDS A SHORT DISTANCE DOWNSLOPE OF THE AREA OF THE PRESENT STATUTORY MORATORIUM BETWEEN GLENEALY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN SAIDI ENACTMENT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL IMPOSE A SUBSTANTIAL CHECKING BURDEN ON THE PRIVATE BUILDING DIVISION OF THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL BRANCH OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.

+TO COPE WITH THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD, A MID-LEVELS DEVELOPMENT UNIT IS BEING SET UP WITHIN THE B.0.0.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION DID NOT BAN ANY DEVELOPMENTS IN ANY PART OF THE MID-LEVELS.

THE BILL,