XN000022-1992-05-27 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992

TOO COSTLY FOR FULL CONTROL SYSTEM OF SIGNBOARDS

A FULL SYSTEM OF CONTROL, PUTTING UP AND MAINTENANCE OF SIGNBOARDS IS NOT IN PLACE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY TO DO SO.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR EASON SAID SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES WOULD BE INVOLVED IN SUCH PRACTICES WHICH WOULD NOT BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE RISK INVOLVED AND UNLIKELY TO BE RECOVERABLE THROUGH CHARGES.

"SIGNS WHICH ARE UNTIDY BUT DO NOT POSE A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD ARE TOLERATED AS THEIR REMOVAL ON AESTHETIC GROUNDS COULD, AGAIN, NOT COMMAND PRIORITY FOR RESOURCES, THE SECRETARY ADDED.

NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, BUILDING OWNERS, UNDER THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS (OWNERS INCORPORATION) ORDINANCE, MIGHT DO ANYTHING NECESSARY TO ENFORCE OBLIGATIONS CONTAINED IN THE DEED OF MUTUAL COVENANT FOR THE CONTROL OF THEIR BUILDING, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF UNSIGHTLY OR ABANDONED SIGNS.

UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS HAS THE POWER TO REMOVE OR TO RENDER SAFE SIGNBOARDS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS OR LIKELY TO BECOME DANGEROUS.

AS PART OF ITS ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ON BUILDING SAFETY, STAFF OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE (BOO) SEEK OUT DANGEROUS SIGNS ON A DAILY BASIS AS WELL AS RELYING ON NOTIFICATION THROUGH PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.

SINCE APRIL 1987, WHEN THE BOO TOOK OVER THE CONTROL OF DANGEROUS SIGNS, 5,682 NOTICES HAD BEEN SERVED ON SIGN OWNERS AND

65% OF THESE SIGNS HAD BEEN REMOVED VOLUNTARILY.

THE REMAINING SIGNS WERE REMOVED BY THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR ON DEFAULT BY THE OWNERS.

OBJECTIONABLE SIGNS ARE REMOVED BY THE POLICE UNDER THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE.

AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO STATUTORY CONTROL ON THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF ADVERTISEMENT SIGNBOARDS.

"THE

ADMINISTRATION'S

PRIMARY CONCERN IS IN RELATION TO THE SAFETY OF OVERHANGING SIGNBOARDS, MR EASON SAID.

WERE

WHERE SIGNBOARDS POSED A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, HE SAID THEY REMOVED EITHER BY THE OWNERS THEMSELVES OR, WHERE NECESSARY, THE BOO OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.

BY

/HE SAID