XN000022-1983-05-31 — Page 6

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1983

5

NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING TOPPED OUT

****

THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, AND THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD, TODAY JOINTLY OFFICIATED AT THE TOPPING-OUT OF THE NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING IN QUEENSWAY.

ADDRESSING THE GATHERING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT, MR JOSEPH LEI, SAID THAT WORK ON THE $191-MILLION BUILDING STARTED AT THE END OF 1981.

→THE WHOLE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR,+ HE ADDED.

THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING IS 22 STOREYS HIGH, COMPRISING A SIX-STOREY PODIUM AND A 16-STOREY TOWER BLOCK WHICH WILL HOUSE 36 COURTS AND ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION.

THE PODIUM WILL LINK UP WITH A 47-STOREY GOVERNMENT OFFICES BLOCK TO BE BUILT ON AN ADJOINING SITE. IT WILL CONSIST OF REGISTRAR'S CHAMBERS, THE SUPREME COURT LIBRARY AND REGISTRY GENERAL AND PERSONNEL REGISTRY, DIVORCE AND PROBATE REGISTRIES, ACCOMMODATION FOR THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY AND A HOLDING UNIT FOR THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE BUILDING WILL BE BY WAY OF A NEW FLYOVER OVER QUEENSWAY, WHICH WILL CONSIST OF A TWO-LANE BRIDGE AND SLIP ROADS.

AFTER THE CEREMONY, SIR DENYS AND MR MCDONALD, ACCOMPANIED BY MR LEI, TOURED A SAMPLE COURT ROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT STRESSED

*****

A SENIOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TODAY UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT IN KEEPING BUILDINGS IN GOOD SHAPE AND ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS ONE OF THE FIELDS IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT PLACES GREAT EMPHASIS + SAID MR K.N. CHOY, SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER IN CHARGE OF 16 ESTATES IN THE DISTRICT OF HONG KONG EAST AND KOWLOON SOUTH.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHWEST, HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WAS LOOKED AFTER BY ONE WHOLE BRANCH IN THE DEPARTMENT.

•IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SOME OWNERS ARE NOT EMPLOYING PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT STAFF PROBABLY DUE TO THE HIGH COST IN RELATION TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF FLATS TO BE MANAGED.+

MR CHOY CAUTIONED THAT IMPROPER MANAGEMENT MIGHT AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE BUILDING AND A LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE COULD RESULT IN MORE EXPENSIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS LATER ON.

*THERE IS MORE THAN JUST MAINTAINING SECURITY IN PROPER HOUSING MANAGEMENT WHICH NOT ONLY KEEPS THE BUILDING IN GOOD SHAPE BUT ALSO ENABLES THE RESIDENTS TO ENJOY BETTER SERVICES AND LIVING ENVIRONMENTS.

/+ONE POSSIBLE