XN000022-1983-10-04 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1983

TURNING TO THE FERRY CONCOURSE, MR CHAN POINTED OUT

THAT IT HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO MAKE THE FERRY PIERS AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO COMMUTERS.

+NEW BUS AND MAXIBUS ROUTES HAVE BEEN DEVISED AND THERE IS AMPLE PROVISION FOR TAXIS AND PRIVATE CARS TO DROP OFF OR PICK UP PASSENGERS USING THE FERRIES, HE SAID.

+A LARGE VEHICLES WAITING AREA IS AVAILABLE IN READINESS FOR THE PASSENGER - VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES TO KWUN TONG WHEN IT IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE NEXT YEAR.

+ THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THIS SERVICE TO ENABLE THE USE OF DOUBLE-DECK VEHICULAR FERRIES HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SHOULD THE DEMAND WARRANT IT IN THE FUTURE.+

FOR THE COMFORT OF PEDESTRIANS, MR CHAN SAID, EXTENSIVE COVERED WALKWAYS LINKING THE TWO PIERS WITH THE POPULATION CENTRE OF SAI WAN HO HAD BEEN PROVIDED.

MR CHAN CONGRATULATED THE STAFF OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND WISHED THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATE FERRY COMPANY EVERY SUCCESS IN THE OPERATION OF THE SERVICES FROM THE NEW PIERS.

CLOSURE OF BUILDING SOUGHT

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THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED BUILDING NO. 198 CHA KWO LING ROAD, KOWLOON TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.

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IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THIS TWO STOREY BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED PARTLY WITH A REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAME AND LOAD BEARING WALLS AND REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR AND ROOF, HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION SINCE 1969.

A RECENT INSPECTION INDICATED THAT THE REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS HAD DETERIORATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDING TO OBVIATE THE RISK OF A COLLAPSE.

A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON NOVEMBER 1 WAS POSTED TODAY.

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