XN000022-1992-02-28 — Page 20

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1992

OPERATION TO WEED OUT DANGEROUS STRUCTURES

THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR ANTHONY SAMSON, TODAY (FRIDAY) VISITED FOUR BUILDINGS IN MONG KOK то SEE FOR HIMSELF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF "OPERATION CATHERINE WHEEL"

AN INITIATIVE OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE (BOO) AIMED AT WEEDING OUT DANGEROUS STRUCTURES THROUGH THE USE OF ADVISORY LETTERS.

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DURING THE OPERATION, BOO STAFF DELIVERED 364 ADVISORY LETTERS TO FLAT OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS IN THE FOUR BUILDINGS URGING THEM TO VOLUNTARILY REMOVE DANGEROUS PROJECTIONS SUCH AS CANOPIES, CAGES AND FLOWER RACKS FROM THEIR PREMISES.

THE FOUR BUILDINGS ARE AMONG A BATCH OF 52 TARGETED IN THE OPERATION WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF "OPERATION APPENDAGES"

AN ENFORCEMENT OPERATION MOUNTED TO CRACK DOWN ON DANGEROUS STRUCTURES BY ISSUING REMOVAL ORDERS.

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MR SAMSON, WHO HEADS THE BOO, SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE LATEST OPERATION WAS AGAIN TO MAKE BUILDINGS SAFER, NOT ONLY FOR THE RESIDENTS BUT ALSO FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, NOTING THAT MOST OF THE DANGEROUS PROJECTIONS WERE ABOVE CROWDED STREETS.

HE SAID THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE UNDER "OPERATION APPENDAGES" HAD CLEARLY INDICATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF BUILDING OWNERS AND RESIDENTS WISHED TO KEEP THEIR BUILDINGS SAFE.

"OPERATION CATHERINE WHEEL" IS THEREFORE DESIGNED TO SPEED UP THE REMOVAL PROCESS BY TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE PRESENT MOOD OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE PROVING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR PRESENT ACTIONS.

"THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF ISSUING REMOVAL ORDERS ΤΟ THE OWNERS CONCERNED, ADVISORY LETTERS ARE BEING SENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, ASKING FOR VOLUNTARY REMOVAL OF ALL DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.

"AT THE SAME TIME, OWNERS' CORPORATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WILL BE ASKED TO THROW THEIR WEIGHT BEHIND THE OPERATION AND TO HELP MOBILISE THE OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS.

"IN THE CASE OF THOSE WHO DO NOT RESPOND ΤΟ THE ADVISORY LETTERS, REMOVAL ORDERS WILL BE SERVED ON THEM, AND THE UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS WILL BE REMOVED BY GOVERNMENT NECESSARY," HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL LATER RECOUP THE COSTS REMOVAL FROM THE OWNERS.

CONTRACTORS IF

INCURRED IN THE

HOWEVER, MR SAMSON POINTED OUT THAT SO FAR THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THE TARGETED BUILDINGS WHO HAD ALREADY RECEIVED THE ADVISORY LETTERS HAD BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING. IF THIS CO-OPERATION CONTINUED, CASES REQUIRING ENFORCEMENT ACTION MINIMAL.

WOULD BE

/HE SAID

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