XN000022-1984-01-11 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984

SAFETY CONDITION IMPOSED ON SHUTTERS

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IT IS FOR SAFETY REASONS THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, IN ALLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF ALUMINIUM FRAMED SHUTTERS, HAS IMPOSED THE CONDITION THAT ONE-THIRD OF THE BALCONY ON PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS SHOULD BE LEFT UNENCLOSED.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID THIS TODAY IN REPLY TO THE HON PAULINE NG CHOW MAY-LIN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR LIAO SAID THAT IN MOST OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, KITCHENS AND TOILETS WERE VENTILATED THROUGH THE BALCONY AREA.

+ENCLOSURE OF THE BALCONY OPENING WOULD THUS CREATE HEALTH HAZARD AND CONTRAVENE THE BUILDING REGULATIONS, AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.

+HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNAUTHORISED WIND SHUTTERS ALREADY EXISTING AND THE FACT THAT MANY OF THEM ARE BEING REPLACED BY ALUMINIUM FRAMED SCREENS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO LAY DOWN A CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARD WITHIN WHICH SUCH INSTALLATIONS CAN BE TOLERATED.+

FURTHERMORE, MR LIAO SAID, MANY TENANTS STILL USED FLUELESS

GAS WATER HEATERS IN THE BALCONY AREA.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, THAT THE BALCONY SHOULD BE KEPT AT LEAST PARTIALLY OPEN TO ENSURE ADEQUATE VENTILATION.+

'CLADDING REGULATIONS SUFFICIENT

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE BUILDING (CONSTRUCTION) REGULATIONS REQUIRED THAT CLADDING TO BUILDINGS SHOULD BE SECURELY FIXED TO THE MAIN STRUCTURE.

MR CHAN WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON W.C.L. BROWN, WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT THERE WERE SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT GLASS OFFICE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG WERE ABLE TO WITHSTAND TYPHOON CONDITIONS.

MR CHAN SAID THE STRENGTH, STIFFNESS, STABILITY AND DURABILITY OF ANY SUCH CLADDING SHOULD BE TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.

+ALL FIXINGS USED FOR CLADDING MUST MOREOVER BE OF STAINLESS STEEL, PHOSPHOR BRONZE, ALUMINIUM BRONZE OR OTHER NON-CORRODIBLE MATERIAL TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE AUTHORITY, HE TOLD THE COUNCIL.

GLASS CURTAIN-WALLING OF THE TYPE MR BROWN HAD REFERRED TO WAS INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF CLADDING, AND IT WAS THE BUILDING AUTHORITY'S ESTABLISHED PRACTICE TO REQUIRÉ ALL SUCH CURTAIN-WALLING TO BE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND TYPHOON CONDITIONS, HE SAID.

+I AM SATISFIED THAT THE PRESENT REGULATIONS AND THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE ORDINANCE ARE SUFFICIENT, HE STATED.

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