XN000022-1993-06-08 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JUNE 8. 1993

COURT OF FINAL APPEAL BILL NOT ON EXCO AGENDA

* * * * *

IN

RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL BILL WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA OF TODAY'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

AND

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT LEGISLATION WAS BEING DRAFTED ON THE BASIS OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL THAT THIS WORK WOULD TAKE SOME MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS NOW PART OF A BUILDING

SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS ARE NOW CLASSIFIED AS THE "COMMON PARTS" OF A BUILDING UNDER THE RECENTLY ENACTED MULTI-STOREY BUILDING (OWNERS CORPORATIONS) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1993, ACTING DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, DR ANDREW MALONE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, DR MALONE POINTED OUT THAT THE INCLUSION OF SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS IN THE DEFINITION OF "COMMON PARTS" CONTAINED IN THE ORDINANCE REPRESENTED ANOTHER INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE (GEO) TO IMPROVE SLOPE SAFETY IN THE TERRITORY.

"IT IS NOW ABSOLUTELY CLEAR FROM THE ORDINANCE THAT THE OWNERS' CORPORATION IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS IN A STATE OF GOOD AND SERVICEABLE CONDITION.

**NOW THE PROPERTY MANAGERS WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN A BETTER POSITION TO PERSUADE THE PRIVATE OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE WORKS, HE SAID.

T

TURNING TO OTHER INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE GEO SINCE LAST YEAR'S RAINSTORMS, DR MALONE POINTED OUT THAT TWO FURTHER IDEAS WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST IS TO INCLUDE A SLOPE MAINTENANCE CLAUSE, MODELLED ON THE PRESENT BUILDING MAINTENANCE CLAUSE, IN THE DEED OF MUTUAL

CONVENANT.

"THIS CLAUSE WILL STATE THE NEED FOR THE OWNERS то MAINTAIN THEIR SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS. IT WILL ALSO GIVE THE BUILDING MANAGERS THE AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES ON THE OWNERS' BEHALF, HE SAID.

THE SECOND IS TO INCLUDE A SHORT NOTE IN THE DEVELOPER'S BROCHURE, SPELLING OUT THE MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS OF THE OWNERS,

"

SALES

/"FLAT OWNERS