XN000022-1989-12-06 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1989

13

THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAD ADVISED THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE FROM ROCK-BLASTING, THE SCHOOL SHOULD AT ONCE APPOINT AN AUTHORISED PERSON TO PREPARE A SCHEME OF REPAIRS TO THE STRUCTURE AND DRAINAGE OF THE SCHOOL, WHICH WERE IN A DILAPIDATED STATE, AND TO PROVIDE COST ESTIMATES, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THESE WORKS WOULD BE TREATED AS MORE URGENT REPAIRS WHICH COULD PROCEED IMMEDIATELY.

"UNFORTUNATELY, 10 MONTHS PASSED BEFORE A QUALIFIED AUTHORISED PERSON WAS APPOINTED IN JANUARY 1986, AND ANOTHER 20 MONTHS PASSED BEFORE THE COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS WAS SUBMITTED IN SEPTEMBER 1987.

"THIS INDICATED THAT ABOUT $2 MILLION WOULD BE NEEDED FOR REMEDIAL WORKS.

SAID.

гр

CONTINUING 'MEANWHILE, THE BUILDING WAS

TO

DETERIORATE,

FF

HE

THIS THE SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT AT

STAGE THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES HAD ADVISED THAT REPROVISIONING THE WHOLE SCHOOL WAS LIKELY TO BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN UNDERTAKING MAJOR REPAIRS, PARTICULARLY SINCE A PROJECT TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL HAD BEEN APPROVED SEPARATELY IN EARLY 1987.

RUNNING REPAIRS ONLY WERE RECOMMENDED, TO MAINTAIN THE SCHOOL IN A USABLE CONDITION PENDING REPROVISIONING.

"THE SCHOOL WAS INFORMED OF THIS IN FEBRUARY 1988, AND IN APRIL 1988 THE SCHOOL'S CONSULTANT WAS ASKED TO ESTIMATE THE COST OF A STRENGTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY AND OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED TO LIFE OF THE BUILDING BY FOUR YEARS OR SO.

EXTEND THE

"COSTINGS WERE SUPPLIED IN JUNE 1988, BUT IT WAS ONLY IN NOVEMBER 1988 THAT THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES ADVISED THAT A SURVEY SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED SO AS TO ASCERTAIN THE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS," HE SAID.

SCOPE OF

MR YEUNG NOTED THAT BECAUSE OF GROWING CONCERN AT THE SLOW WITH PACE OF THE PROJECT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD HELD A MEETING THE SCHOOL AND ITS CONSULTANT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THE CONSULTANT HAD BEGUN HIS STRUCTURAL SURVEY IN FEBRUARY, AND IN JUNE REPORTED THAT REBUILDING

MOST WOULD BE

COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION.

THE

"THERE WAS NO INDICATION IN THE REPORT THAT THE BUILDING WAS IMMEDIATE DANGER. THE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED THAT THE BUILDING WAS CAPABLE OF BEING REPAIRED.

IN

"HOWEVER, IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER INCIDENTS OF FLAKING OF PLASTER AND CONCRETE EXPOSED SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE REINFORCEMENT FLOOR AND CEILING SLABS.

"ON NOVEMBER 3 THIS YEAR THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT THE BUILDING SHOULD BE EVACUATED, HE SAID.

++

/ON NOVEMBER