XN000022-1990-06-07 — Page 10

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1990

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MEASURES WERE REQUIRED TO REGULATE THE CONDITIONS IN EEDSPACE APARTMENTS, AND LICENSING WAS AN OPTION, MR TSAO CONTINUED, ADDING THAT HE HAD ASKED THE DISTRICT OFFICES TO CARRY OUT A SURVEY ON ALL THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN THE TERRITORY.

"WHEN WE HAVE ADEQUATE INFORMATION ON THE OPERATION OF SUCH APARTMENTS AND ON THE LODGERS, WE SHALL BE BETTER ABLE TO MEASURE PRECISELY THE SIZE AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS, AND CONSIDER PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THEM," HE SAID.

NOTING THAT MANY PEOPLE LIVED IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE LOW RENTAL AND BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE NEAR THEIR PLACE OF WORK, MR TSAO SAID HE WAS TRYING TO INTEREST SOME ORGANISATIONS IN SPONSORING HOSTEL PROJECTS IN CERTAIN URBAN LOCATIONS то CATER FOR THE LODGERS WHO WOULD NEED TO BE DISPLACED FROM CONGESTED APARTMENTS.

"I HAVE RECEIVED SOME ENCOURAGING RESPONSE, AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING YOUR CLUB, CAN JOIN IN TO SUPPORT THESE

ENDEAVOURS.

"THE JOB WON'T BE EASY, NEITHER CAN I GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL GET RESULTS. OTHERS HAVE TRIED AND FAILED. BUT WHAT I DO PROMISE IS THAT I SHALL PERSONALLY DEVOTE TIME, ENERGY AND ATTENTION TO THIS SITUATION, ONE OF WHICH A RICH COMMUNITY SUCH AS HONG KONG SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED, HE ADDED.

MR TSAO SAID THAT THE DETERIORATION, BOTH IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND MANAGEMENT, OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM ABOUT WHICH HE WAS VERY CONCERNED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1985, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) HAD FORMED BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAMS IN 10 DISTRICTS TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO FLAT OWNERS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR BUILDINGS.

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SO FAR, THE CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 450 BUILDINGS HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED. THE CNTA WAS RESTRUCTURING AND RE-DEPLOYING SOME TEAMS SO THAT THEIR SERVICES COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE ΤΟ MORE DISTRICTS.

SPEAKING ON OTHER GOVERNMENT EFFORTS ΤΟ IMPROVE BUILDING MANAGEMENT, MR TSAO SAID HE SHARED THE VIEWS FROM MANY QUARTERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS AND FLAT OWNERS, THAT A TRIBUNAL WAS REQUIRED ΤΟ PROVIDE QUICK, INFORMAL AND INEXPENSIVE PROCEDURES TO ENFORCE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS AND TO RESOLVE DISPUTES AMONG OWNERS AND BETWEEN OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

"PROVIDED FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, OUR HOPE IS TO SET UP A BUILDING MANAGEMENT TRIBUNAL BY LAW AND APPOINT SUITABLE PERSONS AS MEMBERS. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND THE PROCEDURES FOR OPERATION ARE BEING EXAMINED IN DETAIL,' HE SAID.

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/SPEAKING ON

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