XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

MR LIAO SAID THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT WOULD ALLOW REVIEWS ON A SIMILAR BASIS TO BE CONDUCTED AT REGULAR INTERVALS IN THE FUTURE.

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THE IMMEDIATE INTRODUCTION OF A MONTHLY RENT ALLOWANCE TO ASSIST BOARD MEMBERS IN SETTING UP THEIR OWN OFFICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND CARRYING OUT OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THEIR WORK AS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

THESE PROPOSALS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT MONTH, HE ADDED.

IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN ON DANGEROUS SIGNS ****

WHEN THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT RECEIVES INFORMATION, EITHER FROM THE PUBLIC OR FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THAT A SIGN APPEARS TO BE DANGEROUS IT IS IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED BY A BUILDING SURVEYOR, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR BARNES SAID THAT IF THIS CONFIRMED THAT ACTION WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE SIGN SAFE, A NOTICE WAS SERVED ON THE OWNER OF THE SIGN REQUIRING IT TO BE REMOVED OR REPAIRED WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME.

+IF THE OWNER CANNOT BE FOUND, OR IF HE DOES NOT TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME, THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT ARRANGES FOR THE SIGN TO BE REMOVED OR REPAIRED, AND WHERE POSSIBLE RECOVERS THE COST FROM THE OWNER.+

MR BARNES SAID IF THE INSPECTION SHOWED THE SIGN TO BE IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS, THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE IT REMOVED IMMEDIATELY, AGAIN SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERING THE COSTS FROM THE OWNER.

+THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT TAKES SIMILAR ACTION TO REMOVE SIGNS THAT PRESENT A DANGER TO TRAFFIC OR OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC SIGNS ON REQUEST FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.

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