XN000022-1990-10-27 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1990

BUILDING OWNERS HAVE ONUS TO CHECK SAFETY: GOVERNOR

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THEIR

OF

THE OWNERS OF OLD AND NEW BUILDINGS MUST CHECK THE SAFETY BUILDINGS AND MUST MAINTAIN AND KEEP THEM UP TO STANDARD, THE

GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK AT SHA TIN, SIR DAVID SAID THAT WAS THE WAY TO TRY ΤΟ AVOID THE SORT OF APPALLING ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT,

"WE ARE ALL HORRIFIED BY THE INCIDENT YESTERDAY WITH COLLAPSE OF A CANOPY AND I HEARD THE NEWS WITH DEEP DISTRESS FOR FAMILIES OF THOSE CONCERNED," HE SAID.

THE THE

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT WAS WORKING ON TRYING TO ESTABLISH WHAT CAUSED THE COLLAPSE.

"AND I'VE ASKED FOR A REPORT ON IT."

HE ALSO STRESSED THAT IT WAS NOT JUST DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING THAT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT MAINTAINING IT WAS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.

SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A CORONER'S INQUIRY INTO THE INCIDENT AND DETAILED QUESTIONS WOULD THEN BE ASKED: "SO IF THERE IS A CORONER'S INQUIRY, THE PEOPLE CONCERNED CAN'T SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE INQUIRY."

"BUT IF THERE HAD BEEN INFRINGEMENTS OF THE REGULATIONS THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE SO I WOULDN'T LIKE TO GO INTO THAT AT THE MOMENT, HE SAID.

"I DO WANT TO EMPHASISE THAT OWNERS OF BUILDINGS HAVE A REAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR BUILDINGS, HE ADDED.

OF THE

ASKED IF SOMETHING URGENT SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE SHORTAGE OF BUILDING INSPECTORS AND THE RECENT COLLAPSE OF AN OLD BUILDING IN SHEUNG WAN, THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE ΤΟ HAVE BUILDING INSPECTORS GOING INSPECTING EVERY SINGLE BUILDING EACH YEAR IN HONG KONG.

IT

WAS AROUND

"OF COURSE, THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THE OLD BUILDINGS AND DO IT AS QUICKLY

POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THEY HAVE LIMITATIONS ON MANPOWER. EVERYBODY HAS THAT. THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE GOT TO GO ON DOING, HE SAID.

"

"BUT WITH A NEW BUILDING, SOMETHING CLEARLY IS WRONG. THE BUILDING HASN'T JUST DETERIORATED OVER AGE AND FOR THAT, ONE HAS ΤΟ LOOK TO THE OWNERS TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG, HE ADDED.

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