XN000022-1987-10-14 — Page 35

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987

AMENDMENT TO BILL SUPPORTED

A PROPOSAL BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE (APPLICATION TO THE NT) BILL THAT THE BILL BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS OTHER PERSONS WAS SUPPORTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AND THE

SPEAKING ON THE RESUMPTION OF THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR ASPREY SAID HE HAD COME TO THE VIEW THAT A DISTINCTION IN THE TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT CLASSES OF PEOPLE UNDER THIS BILL WOULD BE UNDESIRABLE.

HE SAID.

"IT IS NOT JUSTIFIED ON GROUNDS OF SAFETY

OR PUBLIC HEALTH,

+

THE PROPOSALS IN THE BILL, IN PARTICULAR THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, AND THE PROVISION FOR SEPARATE CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION FOR BUILDING WORKS, SITE FORMATION WORKS AND DRAINAGE WORKS, WOULD ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS OF VILLAGE HOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,

ONLY SOME 10 PER CENT OF SUCH HOUSES WERE BUILT BY PERSONS OTHER THAN INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS, MR ASPREY SAID.

HE SAID THE EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WOULD REMAIN LIMITED TO THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ARE IN

"VERY FEW HOUSES WHICH MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION FACT BUILT ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON, AND AT PRESENT THERE IS LITTLE PUBLIC DEMAND OR NEED TO EXTEND THE EXEMPTION OUTSIDE THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.

"HOWEVER, IN REPLY TO MR CHENG'S POINT, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS NOW EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING EXEMPTIONS FROM THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIED MINOR BUILDING WORKS, INCLUDING SMALL HOUSES, THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

"IF PROPOSALS ON THESE LINES ARE EVENTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, SEPARATE LEGISLATION TO LIMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY," HE SAID.

SPEAKING DURING THE BILL'S COMMITTEE STAGE, MR ASPREY SAID IN CLAUSE 2 THE DEFINITION OF "BUILDING WORKS" EXCLUDED "SITE FORMATION WORKS, DRAINAGE WORKS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEAWALLS OR RETAINING WALLS".

"HOWEVER, ON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE EXCLUSION OF RETAINING

WALLS FROM THE DEFINITION OF CONFUSING, HE SAID.

'BUILDING WORKS' IS UNNECESSARY

/"RETAINING WALLS

AND