XN000022-1990-11-16 — Page 18

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1990

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YAU MA TEI POST-WAR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS

EXTERNAL

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (FRIDAY) DECLARED THE REAR STAIRCASES AT NOS. 470 AND 470 A TO G RECLAMATION STREET, YAU THI, DANGEROUS AND THEIR MAIN BUILDINGS LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS,

MA

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEY OR SAID THESE POST-WAR BUILDINGS, ALL 34 YEARS OLD, ARE FIVE STOREYS HIGH WITH COCKLOFTS ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

THEY ARE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMED BUILDINGS WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND ROOFS, AND BRICK INFILL PANEL WALLS.

THE EXTERNAL STAIRCASES AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDINGS ARE AT AN ADVANCED STAGE OF DETERIORATION, WITH SEVERELY SPALLED AND CRACKED REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS.

THE STAIRCASE AT THE REAR OF NOS. 470 F AND G IS OUT OF

ALIGNMENT.

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

MORE

THERE ARE OTHER DEFECTS THROUGHOUT THE MAIN BUILDINGS, NOTICEABLY AT THE FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS INCLUDING THE FRONT MAIN STAIRCASES ESPECIALLY THE STAIRCASE HOODS.

THE DEMOLITION OF THE REAR STAIRCASES WOULD RENDER THE BUILDINGS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE. THEREFORE, THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED.

THE DEFECTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED IN PART BY LACK OF ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS OVER THE PRECEEDING YEARS.

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ADVISES THAT SHOULD THE OWNERS WISH ΤΟ RE-BUILD THE REAR STAIRCASES, FORMAL APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.

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

ABOUT 160 PEOPLE WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE OF THE UPPER DOMESTIC FLOORS OF THE BUILDINGS.

KONG

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN HONG DISTRICT COURT ON FEBRUARY 6, 1991 WERE POSTED TODAY ON THE BUILDINGS.

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