XN000022-1986-11-26 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986

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STEPS PLANNED TO TACKLE ILLEGAL BUILDING WORKS

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MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE FORMIDABLE PROBLEM OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS COULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR BARNES SAID WITH THE HEAVY WORKLOAD OF APPROVING BUILDING PLANS AND DEALING WITH DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND RELATED MATTERS THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM WERE LIMITED AND PRIORITIES TO CONTROL MUST BE SET REALISTICALLY.

+IT IS PROPOSED THAT PROMPT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN ON HIGH PRIORITY CASES,+ HE ADDED.

THESE INCLUDED CASES WHERE THERE WAS DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, LARGE STRUCTURES WHICH CONTRAVENED BOTH THE BUILDING ORDINANCE AND LEASE CONDITIONS, AND CASES RECOMMENDED FOR REMOVAL BY DISTRICT BOARDS AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED BY AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE.

+ ALL OTHER LOW PRIORITY CASES WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH THEM UNLESS THE PRIORITIES ARE CHANGED, + HE SAID.

MR BARNES SAID COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES WOULD BE STREAMLINED AND IT WAS PROPOSED THAT DEMOLITION TEAMS BE ESTABLISHED.

THESE WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO DEMOLISH UNAUTHORISED BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR JUST COMPLETED.

LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS AND OTHER MINOR PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM.

DISTRICT BOARDS, HE ADDED, WOULD BE CONSULTED SHORTLY ON THESE PROPOSALS AND IT WAS HOPED TO INTRODUCE THEM NEXT YEAR.

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE LISTING OF CONTRACTORS AND THE AWARDING OF TENDERS, MR BARNES SAID HE WAS NOW EXAMINING IN DETAIL THE POSITION OF THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WITH THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION TO SEE WHETHER THERE WERE ANY GENUINE INEQUITIES IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AS JUDGED FROM THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS LIST THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A DECLINING LOCAL INDUSTRY.

/THE NUMBER