XN000022-1987-07-15 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1987

BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED

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THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 PASSED ITS THIRD READING AT TODAY'S (WEDNESDAY'S) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

SPEAKING DURING THE DEBATE OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, THANKED COUNCILLORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND IN PARTICULAR CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS FROM MR CHENG HON-KWAN.

HE SAID: "MR CHENG QUITE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY MUST ENSURE THAT WORKS CARRIED OUT IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ARE DONE AT MINIMUM COST AND TO A SATISFACTORY STANDARD.

"I WOULD REASSURE HIM THAT THE AUTHORITY'S PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OF CONTRACTS AND SUPERVISION OF THE WORKS ARE AIMED AT ACHIEVING PRECISELY THIS."

BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WELCOMED

THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT A PROPOSAL IN THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WHICH EMPOWERED THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO RECOVER COSTS FOR NECESSARY INCIDENTAL WORKS AND SERVICES WOULD GREATLY ASSIST PRIVATE BUILDING OWNERS IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR CHENG SAID UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WAS EMPOWERED ΤΟ CARRY OUT WORKS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO RECOVER THE DIRECT COSTS INCURRED, WHEN THE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUILDING HAD FAILED TO CARRY OUT THE WORKS THEMSELVES.

"INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL COSTS ARE NOT RECOVERABLE, AND THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TENDS TO OMIT ANY WORK INCIDENTAL TO THE REMOVAL OF DANGER, HE SAID.

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MR CHENG SAID OMELCO HAD IN FACT RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND PRIVATE BUILDING OWNERS WHO POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS UNSATISFACTORY.

WORKS PANEL HAD DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL CONTAINED IN THE

THE

BILL

HE SAID THE OMELCO LANDS AND PROBLEM WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. WAS A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

/HOWEVER, MR