XN000022-1982-11-29 — Page 9

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1982

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VOLUNTARY CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

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MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (MONDAY) LEARNED HOW A LONG-STANDING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM AT FIVE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS IN QUARRY BAY HAD BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH THE CLOSE CO- OPERATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT.

A VISIT, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND EVER ORGANISED BY THE BOARD'S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, WAS MADE TO THE OWNERS' CORPORATION OF THE YICK FAT, YICK CHEONG, FOOK CHEONG, OCEANIC AND MONTANE BUILDINGS THIS EVENING.

THE VISITING PARTY COMPRISED 10 DB MEMBERS, THE EASTERN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, ICAC, HOUSING, AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS.

THE VISITORS LEARNED THAT ABOUT 13 000 PEOPLE LIVED IN THE FIVE 10-YEAR-OLD BUILDINGS WHICH JOINTLY SHARED TWO COMMON COURTYARDS COMPRISING PLATFORMS OVER BASEMENTS.

SOON AFTER THE BUILDINGS WERE OCCUPIED, THE TWO COURTYARDS HAD BEEN ENCROACHED UPON BY UNAUTHORISED EXTENSIONS AND ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WHICH WERE MOSTLY USED AS COOKED-FOOD STALLS, CREATING SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUILDINGS AND TO CO- ORDINATE EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE COURTYARDS, OWNERS' CORPORATIONS WERE FORMED.

THE PROBLEMS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED AT THE EASTERN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IN MAY LAST YEAR AND IT WAS AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASSIST THE OWNERS' CORPORATIONS IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS BY CLEARING THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES,

DETAILS OF THE CLEARANCE HAD BEEN WORKED OUT AFTER NUMEROUS INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS CONVENED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, SOME OF WHICH WERE ALSO ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OWNERS' CORPORATIONS.

ON JUNE 28 THIS YEAR, THE CORPORATIONS ISSUED LETTERS AND NOTICES TO DEMAND THAT ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND EXTENSIONS BE DEMOLISHED VOLUNTARILY WITHIN 12 WEEKS. BUT THE STRUCTURES REMAINED INTACT ON THE EXPIRY DATE.

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE THEN POSTED NOTICES OF DEMOLITION ORDERS ON THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND PUBLISHED THE ORDERS IN THE GAZETTE.

THE NOTICES ORDERED THAT THESE STRUCTURES BE DEMOLISHED BY OCTOBER 19, FAILING WHICH THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE CONTRACTOR WOULD STEP IN TO DO THE JOB.

/TEE TRESPASSERS