XN000022-1985-12-18 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1983

+BUT AT NO TIME WAS IT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION THAT SAFETY SHOULD BE COMPROMISED.

+ THE TERM LOW COST HOUSING DOES NOT IMPLY LOWER STANDARDS OF SAFETY, + HE ADDED.

CONTINUING ON THE SUBJECT OF SAFETY, MR CHAN SAID THAT ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, ALTHOUGH EXEMPT FROM THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, FULLY CONFORMED TO THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE IR DESIGNS WERE VETTED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.

IN FACT CHANGES TO THE BUILDING (CONSTRUCTION) REGULATIONS WERE BEING CONSIDERED TO BRING STANDARDS IN PRIVATE CONTRACTS UP TO THE LEVEL OF THOSE IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

ON A SUGGESTION BY THE HON HO SAI-CHU THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION NOT TO ACCEPT THE LOWEST TENDER, MR CHAN SAID THIS WAS THE CURRENT PRACTICE.

NO CONTRACT WAS AWARDED UNLESS ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS WERE MET AND THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD WAS SATISFIED THAT THE TENDERER COULD SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE CONTRACT AT THE PRICE TENDERED.

+IN CONCLUDING, + MR CHAN SAID, LET ME ASSURE MEMBERS THAT PRESENT DAY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR BUILDING DESIGN

AND CONSTRUCTION HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED WHEN COMPARED

П

ITH THOSE UNDER WHICH THE 26 PROBLEM HOUSING BLOCKS WERE

BUILT. CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE GIVES US NOT ONLY

BUILDINGS WHICH ARE STRUCTURALLY SAFE, BUT ALSO DURABLE AND VALUE FOR MONEY AS THEY SHOULD BE. +

CALL TO HANDLE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT EXPEDITIOUSLY

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IT IS THE DUTY OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING TO EXPEDITIOUSLY ATTEND TO ALL THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT OR REPAIRS OF ALL THOSE PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS WITH CONCRETE PROBLEMS.

THIS WAS SAID BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN LEADING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON

THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR 26 PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS ANNOUNCEL BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON NOVEMBER 21, 1985+.

DR HO, CONVENER OF A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP UN THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, WAS JOINED BY 20 OTHER UNOFFICIALS IN THE DEBATE.

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DR HO SAID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO DEMOLISH TOE 26 BLOCKS WITH LOW CONCRETE STRENGTH WAS A PESPONSIBLE ACT. REFLECTING ITS CONCERN AND CARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS.

A