XN000022-1984-12-10 — Page 13

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1984

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INQUIRY ORDERED INTO FIRE ON LIGHTERS

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THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR CHAN YUE-YAN, HAS ORDERED A LOCAL MARINE INQUIRY INTO A FIRE AND EXPLOSION WHICH OCCURRED LAST WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 5) IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE.

A MARINE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE ORDER HAD BEEN MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POWERS GRANTED UNDER SECTION 50 OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE (CAP. 313).

THE SEVERE FIRE, WHICH INVOLVED SEVEN DUMB STEEL AND LOCALLY LICENSED LIGHTERS, RÉSULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE AND SERIOUS INJURY.

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NEED SEEN FOR SIMPLER TALL BUILDING LAW

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CONSIDERATION WAS CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN TO THE REVISION OF LEGISLATION CONTROLLING THE DESIGN OF TALL BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

IT HAD BEEN RECOGNISED THAT THE BUILDING REGULATIONS HAD TO BE SIMPLIFIED AND MADE MORE READILY USABLE BY PRACTIONERS BY REMOVING THE EXISTING DETAILED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, HE SAID.

MR CHAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TALL BUILDINGS.

CODES OF PRACTICE REFERRED TO IN THE REGULATIONS AS +DEEMED- TO-SATISFY DOCUMENTS WOULD BE ONE WAY TO SATISFY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, AND ANY DESIGN METHOD WHICH COULD BE SHOWN TO ACHIEVE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED, HE SAID.

+THE CONSTRUCTION OF TALL BUILDINGS HAS LONG BEEN THE SOLUTION TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE SPACE FROM AN EVER GROWING URBAN POPULATION, HE SAID.

+THIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE IN RECENT YEARS IN THE URBAN SCENE IN HONG KONG. DUE TO THE SCARCITY OF LAND, ECONOMIC PRESSURES HAVE MADE IT NECESSARY TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT ON OUR BUILDING SITES BY EMPLOYING THE MOST EFFICIENT BUILDING FORM.

+ALTHOUGH TALL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CRITICISED AS BEING SOCIALLY UNDESIRABLE AS FAMILY DWELLINGS, ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS AITHIN CITIES OFTEN MAKE SUCH LIVING UNAVOIDABLE.

+THE IMPACT