XN000022-1984-12-11 — Page 16

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1984

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THESE THREE-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING BRICK WALLS AND MAINLY TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOFS HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

A RECENT INSPECTION HAS SHOWN THAT THE WALLS OF THESE BUILDINGS WERE FRACTURED AND THE BRICKS VERY WEAK.

IN THE CASE OF NOS. 9 AND 13 TSUNG SAU LANE WEST AND NO. 4 TSUNG SAU LANE EAST, THE FRACTURES WERE MOST SEVERE AND THERE WAS A RISK OF COLLAPSE. IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE TIMBER SUPPORTS TO

IT WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO THE FLOORS AND ROOFS WERE DECAYED. CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS.

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AS THE COMMON WALLS TO NOS. 7

15, 17, 19, 21 AND 23 TSUNG SAU LANE WEST AND NOS. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 AND 16 TSUNG SAU LANE EAST WERE ALSO FRACTURED AND THEIR TIMBER SUPPORTS TO FLOORS AND ROOFS DECAYED, THESE BUILDINGS BEING IN THE SAME GROUP AND GAINING SUPPORT FROM NOS. 9 AND 13 TSUNG SAU LANE WEST AND NO. 4 TSUNG SAU LANE EAST, WERE UNLIKELY TO WITHSTAND THE PROCESS OF DEMOLISHING THE LATTER THREE BUILDINGS. IT WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH ALL THE 16 BUILDINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON JANUARY 29, 1985 WERE POSTED TODAY, ON ALL BUILDINGS EXCEPT NOS. 7 TSUNG SAU LANE WEST AND 12 TSUNG SAU LANE EAST WHICH ARE CROWN PROPERTIES. IN THESE CASES A NOTICE TO QUIT WILL BE SERVED.

NOVEMBER WARMER THAN USUAL

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NOVEMBER WAS WARMER THAN USUAL

THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY REPORTS. THE MONTHLY MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 22.3 DEGREES CELSIUS AND THE MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 20.3 DEGREES CELSIUS BOTH RANKED SEVENTH HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR ANY NOVEMBER.

THE MONTH'S 4.5 MM OF RAINFALL, REPRESENTED A MERE 13 PER CENT OF THE NORMAL VALUE OF 34.7 MM.

IT WAS FINE AND SUNNY FROM NOVEMBER 1 TO 11, APART FROM SOME LIGHT RAIN PATCHES ON NOVEMBER 2 AND 9.

WEATHER BECAME CLOUDY WITH PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN ON NOVEMBER 12, AS A COLD FRONT DEVELOPED OVER SOUTHERN CHINA. THE COLD FRONT DISSIPATED NORTH OF HONG KONG ON NOVEMBER 13 BUT CLOUDY CONDITIONS CONTINUED UP TO NOVEMBER 15 WITH LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME.

/IT WAS