XN000022-1994-09-10 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1994

SPEL ON WALL COLLAPSE

FOLLOWING IS THE OPENING STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING ON YESTERDAY'S WALL COLLAPSE AT NATHAN ROAD:

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW POINTS IN RELATION TO YESTERDAY'S TRAGEDY IN YAU MA TEI AND OUTLINE WHAT WE ARE DOING IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY FROM NOW ON. THEN MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT (BD) HAS ALREADY CALLED IN STAFF ΤΟ CARRY OUT CHECKS ON ALL CURRENT DEMOLITION SITES. THE CHECKS WILL COMMENCE THIS WEEKEND AND CONTINUE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY UNTIL EVERY SITE HAS BEEN CHECKED, WE WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHING A DEDICATED TEAM IN THE BD TO CARRY OUT SPOT CHECKS OF DEMOLITION SITES FROM NOW

ON. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS WORK. AT OUR MEETING AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE THIS MORNING, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THIS REQUIREMENT MUST BE MET AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.

WE HAVE CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING WITH THE BUILDINGS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LAND AND BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE AUTHORISED PERSONS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS COMMITTEE ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. THESE ARE THE FORMAL CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATES WITH THOSE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY AT DEMOLITION SITES. WE WILL BE MAKING CLEAR TO THEM THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THESE SITES MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUPERVISION OF DEMOLITION WORK. OUR AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT PROFESSIONALS FULFIL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY IF WE FIND THAT THEY DO NOT MEASURE UP.

WE WILL BE REVIEWING IMMEDIATELY THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED WHEN CONSENT IS GIVEN FOR DEMOLITION WORK UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE. WE WANT TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHT. WE WILL, BE LOOKING IN PARTICULAR AT THE FREQUENCY OF INSPECTIONS REQUIRED BY THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEMOLITION SITES BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOARDINGS AT SUCH SITES OTHER MEASURES SUCH AS DIVERTING PEDESTRIAN AWAY FROM DEMOLITION SITES WHERE POSSIBLE.

UNDER THE AND

WE WILL ALSO BE REVIEWING THE EXISTING LEGISLATION то SEE WHETHER ANY TIGHTENING UP IS REQUIRED.

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DISTRICT OFFICE NOT WARNED OF DANGER AT DEMOLITION SITE

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IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES RELATING TO THE NATHAN ROAD WALL COLLAPSE, YAU TSIM/MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER MR BART IRELAND TODAY (SATURDAY) CLARIFIED THAT HIS OFFICE HAD NOT BEEN FOREWARNED OF ANY DANGER POSED BY THE DEMOLITION WORK.

HE SAID THE JORDAN AREA COMMITTER, CHAIRED BY MR VIP WAIL WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD, ONLY DISCUSSED ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE WING ON BUILDING AT ITS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 6 (TUESDAY).

/THE ISSUE