XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

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ASBESTOS-CEMENT IN ESTATES POSES NO UNDUE RISK

ESTATES IS NOT

ASBESTOS-CEMENT USED IN THE BUILDING OF PUBLIC HOUSING DOES NOT POSE AN UNDUE HEALTH RISK TO RESIDENTS PROVIDED IT DISTURBED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON ROBIN SAUNDERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR SAUNDERS SAID THAT A TOTAL OF 325 PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS IN MARK III, IV AND V ESTATES BUILT BETWEEN 1962 AND 1969, AND HOUSING 667,000 TENANTS, HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CONTAINING SOME ASBESTOS-CEMENT PRODUCTS.

THEY WERE USED MAINLY FOR BALCONY AND STAIRCASE BALUSTRADING AS WELL AS FOR ROOF INSULATION.

"ALL THESE BLOCKS ARE SCHEDULED FOR REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY AND SAFE METHODS HAVE BEEN DEVISED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT, FOR THE REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS-CEMENT MATERIALS DURING DEMOLITION OR REPAIR PRIOR TO REDEVELOPMENT," HE SAID..

IN ADDITION, 1,664 TEMPORARY HOUSING

STRUCTURES BUILT PRIOR TO 1984, HOUSING ABOUT 90,000 TENANTS, HAVE ASBESTOS-CEMENT ROOFING. THE USE OF THIS MATERIAL FOR ROOFING CEASED IN 1984.

ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES FOR CLOSING ROADS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES FOR CLOSING ROADS TO ENSURE THAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC IS MINIMISED, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

CHI-FAI,

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON

MR LEUNG SAID THAT FOR ROAD CLOSURES WHICH COULD BE PLANNED AHEAD, THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WOULD CONSULT OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND, 1F NECESSARY, DISTRICT BOARDS, TO ENSURE THAT THE CLOSURE WAS

NECESSARY.

THEY WOULD ALSO DEVISE APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC DIVERSION SCHEMES SO THAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE MINIMISED.

/HE STRESSED

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