XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

19

BUILDINGS POSING THREAT TO SAFETY BE GIVEN PRIORITY

*

PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO BUILDINGS THAT POSE A POTENTIAL THE THREAT TO SAFETY UNDER THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1992, ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR BOWEN LEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL,

MR LEUNG SAID THE PARTICULAR CONCERN OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WOULD BE MADE KNOWN TO BUILDING OWNERS UNDER THE TERMS OF INVESTIGATION ORDER.

AN

"CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED AT THE POTENTIALLY LARGE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS WHICH

AND AFFECTED BY THE BILL

ITS EFFECT ON

BUILDING OWNERS.

WILL BE

"I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASISE THAT THE PROPOSED SECTION 26A WILL INITIALLY BE APPLIED SELECTIVELY TO COMPLEMENT THE

SURVEY ON-GOING ACTIVITIES BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE," MR LEUNG SAID.

DILAPIDATION WHICH ONLY AFFECTED THE APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING WOULD THEREFORE

THE NOT BE ON THE TOP HIS PRIORITY LIST,

SECRETARY

SAID.

"HOWEVER I SHOULD ADD THAT IT IS IN THE BUILDING OWNERS* LEST INTEREST TO ENSURE THAT ANY DILAPIDATION IS ATTENDED TO PROMPTLY, IT DETERIORATES TO STRUCTURAL DANGER,' HE ADDED.

ON

THE

CAMPAIGN

ON

BUILDING

THE APPROPRIATE PUBLICITY TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF

BILL, MR LEUNG SAID A FRESH PUBLICITY SAFETY HAD BEEN LAUNCHED SINCE LAST MONTH.

A PRESS CONFERENCE WOULD ALSO BE HELD AFTER THE BILL WAS PASSED INTO LAW TO EXPLAIN ITS PROVISIONS FURTHER.

IN ADDITION, THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION PAMPHLETS PREPARED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, WHICH COULD BE OBTAINED FROM DISTRICT OFFICES.

FINALLY,

ESTABLISHED

TO

A NEW 24-HOUR "BUILDING SAFETY HOTLINE" KAD BEEN

AND FURTHER IMPROVE THE ENQUIRY SERVICE

DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.

PRIME

AS REGARDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE SECRETARY SAID THE RESPONSIBILITY

ENSURING THE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF

FOR

BUILDINGS LAY WITH THEIR OWNERS.

WILL GIVE DUE FOR

"NONETHELESS, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE REGARD TO THE ABILITY OF BUILDING OWNERS IN ORGANISING AND PAYING THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED.

"IN THE CASE OF ORDERS WHICH GO INTO DEFAULT. SYMPATHETIC

WILL CONSIDERATION

BY BE GIVEN TO REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT

INSTALMENTS WHEN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS PROVEN, HE SAID.

++

/MOREOVER, MR