XN000022-1985-11-06 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1985

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CONCRETE DETERIORATION PROBLEM NOT SERIOUS

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THE PROBLEM OF CONCRETE DETERIORATION IN HONG KONG WAS NOT SERIOUS ALTHOUGH IT WAS GROWING, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAN SAID THAT BECAUSE OF A REGULAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME THE SITUATION WAS BETTER IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS THAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES THERE HAD BEEN NO CASES OF DEFECTIVE CONCRETE CAUSING A PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING TO BE IN A STATE OF IMMINENT FAILURE.

+ IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE SAID, +OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, 31 BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED BECAUSE OF SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CONCRETE. THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT 0.12 PER CENT OF ALL CONCRETE-FRAMED BUILDINGS IN THE TERRITORY.+

HE ADDED THAT BOTH PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF CONCRETE DETERIORATION.

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE REQUIRED ALL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO COMPLY WITH STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND RESULTS OF TESTS ON STEEL REINFORCEMENT HAD TO BE SUBMITTED BEFORE CONSTRUCTION.

DUR ING CONSTRUCTION TEST REPORTS ON CONCRETE HAD TO BE SUBMITTED AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE STAFF MADE REGULAR SITE INSPECTIONS,

MR CHAN SAID THAT AFTER BUILDINGS WERE COMPLETED PLANNED SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED BY BOO STAFF WHO ALSO RESPONDED TO REPORTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

REPAIR ORDERS WERE SERVED ON OWNERS WHEN BUILDINGS REQUIRED ATTENTION AND IF THESE WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH DIRECT ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.

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