XN000022-1990-04-26 — Page 23

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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1990

SUCH STAIRCASES ARE CONSIDERED ΤΟ BE BEYOND REASONABLE ECONOMIC REPAIR AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED.

THERE ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS IN REAR PARTS OF ALMOST EVERY FLOOR OF THE BUILDINGS. LESS SERIOUS SIMILAR DEFECTS WERE ALSO FOUND IN MOST OF THE FRONT PORTIONS OF BUILDINGS.

THE DEMOLITION OF THE REAR STAIRCASES WILL RENDER BUILDINGS DANGEROUS BY REASON OF LACK OF ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE THEREFORE THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED.

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A BUILDING AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEFECTS APPEAR TO BEEN CAUSED IN PART BY LACK OF ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS OVER THE YEARS.

TO

WHILE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE COMPEL OWNERS TO CONTINUALLY MAINTAIN THEIR BUILDINGS, HE SAID A PRUDENT OWNER WOULD DO SO IN ORDER ΤΟ SAFEGUARD THE VALUE OF HIS PROPERTY,

HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT SHOULD THE OWNERS WISH TO REBUILD THE REAR STAIRCASES, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WOULD CONSIDER ANY FORMAL APPLICATIONS MADE IN THIS RESPECT.

HOWEVER, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS ALL REQUIRED WORKS TO MAKE THE BUILDINGS SAFE GENERALLY HAD BEEN SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED, THE BUILDINGS SHOULD REMAIN CLOSED.

THE SPOKESMAN ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 150 PEOPLE WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE OF THE BUILDINGS.

THIS CASE WAS DISCOVERED AS A RESULT OF THE INTENSIFIED ACTIVITIES OF THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WHICH COMMENCED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON JULY 26 WAS POSTED TODAY ON ALL FOUR BUILDINGS.

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