XN000022-1983-09-30 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1983

CLOSURE OF TWO OLD BUILDINGS SOUGHT

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 323 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NO. 126 JERVOIS STREET, HONG KONG LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT NO. 323 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, A FOUR STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, AND NO. 126 JERVOIS STREET, A FIVE STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD BEARING BRICK WALLS AND TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOFS, HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

A RECENT INSPECTION OF NO. 323 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL INDICATED CONTINUING MOVEMENT IN THE FRACTURED BRICK WORK TO THE EXPOSED EXTERNAL WALL. IT WAS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING TO OBVIATE THE RISK OF A COLLAPSE.

THE FRACTURES IN THE EXPOSED EXTERNAL WALL OF NO. 126 JERVOIS STREET ARE SUCH THAT IT IS CONSIDERED THIS BUILDING COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE DEMOLITION OF NO. 323 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL. IT WAS THEREFORE, ALSO NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING.

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON OCTOBER 28 WERE POSTED TODAY.

TACTICAL UNIT TO HAVE MODERN DEPOT

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PLANS ARE WELL ADVANCED FOR THE BUILDING OF A NEW AND LARGER COMPLEX ON THE PRESENT SITE OF THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT WITHIN FOUR YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MR RICHARD QUINE, DISCLOSED TODAY (FRIDAY).

ADDRESSING MEMBERS OF THE BRAVO COMPANY AT A PASSING OUT PARADE THIS MORNING, MR QUINE POINTED OUT THAT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION.

''BUT THIS IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR THE EXCELLENT DEPOT WHICH LATER WILL MATERIALISE HERE,'' HE ADDED.

STRESSING THAT MODERN FACILITIES WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY ENHANCE THIS FORM OF TRAINING, HE AFFIRMED THAT THE POLICE WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP INTERNAL SECURITY STRATEGIES AND TACTICS UNDER REVIEW,

''DEVELOPMENTS LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS ARE CAREFULLY MONITORED

IN OUR ENDEAVOUR TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS.

**THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD QUESTION THE NEED TO MAINTAIN SUCH A CAPABILITY, FOR MY PART I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS REQUIRED,

OREGRETTABLY THE