XN000022-1993-07-07 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1993

"PAST EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS NORMALLY INCREASES TOWARDS THE LATTER HALF OF THE YEAR AND WE HOPE THAT THE HIGH RATE OF DEPARTURES ESTABLISHED IN LATE 1992 RE-EMERGE IN COMING MONTHS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

WILL

THE BATCH REUTRNED TODAY COMPRISES 112 MEN, 68 WOMEN, 45 AND 40 GIRLS.

BOYS

PRE-WAR BUILDING IN WESTERN DECLARED DANGEROUS

* * * * *

A

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DECLARED FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING AT 16 BONHAM ROAD IN WESTERN DISTRICT то BE DANGEROUS.

BRIDGES.

THE BUILDING CONSISTS OF FRONT AND REAR BLOCKS CONNECTED BY

THE FRONT BLOCK HAS TIMBER AND REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS WITH LOAD-BEARING BRICK AND MASONRY WALLS WHILE THE REAR KITCHEN BLOCK HAS CONCRETE FLOOR AND LOAD-BEARING BRICK WALLS.

RECENT INSPECTIONS SHOWED THAT THE PARTY WALL COMMON WITH 12 BONHAM ROAD HAD MOVED. THE ADJOINING BRICK ARCHES AND THE FRONT PORCH/ STAIRCASE AREA HAD ALSO MOVED.

OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT PORCH/STAIRCASE AREA AND THE SEVERELY FRACTURED ARCHES GAVE RISE TO CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS.

STEEL

TEMPORARY

SHORINGS GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED CONTRACTOR LAST

COLLAPSE.

BY

A

WERE

ERECTED MONTH ΤΟ PREVENT A POSSIBLE

MEANWHILE, MOVEMENT OF THE PARTY WALL HAS CAUSED A 20-MILLIMETRE GAP BETWEEN THE GROUND FLOOR SLAB AND THE WALL, AND SEVERE CRACKS ARE FOUND IN THE ARCHES THROUGHOUT THE FRONT BLOCK, PARTICULARLY ON THE GROUND FLOOR WHERE AT LEAST ONE ARCH HAS PARTIALLY COLLAPSED.

THEREFORE, THE BUILDING SHOULD BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED AS BEING DANGEROUS.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON AUGUST 10 WAS POSTED ON THE PREMISES TODAY.

ORDERS REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING WILL BE SERVED ONTO THE OWNERS CONCERNED SHORTLY.

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