XN000022-1995-01-04 — Page 7

No "double standards" for action against unauthorised building works

The Buildings Department does not apply "double standards" in dealing with unauthorised building works (UBW), the Director of Buildings Mrs Helen Yu stressed today (Wednesday).

She firmly rebutted some newspaper comments that queried whether there are "double standards" in respect of UBW.

"We in Buildings Department enforce the law without fear or favour. We treat all UBW equally, whether they are located in old tenement blocks or new luxury buildings and whether they house the rich or the poor," she noted.

Mrs Yu emphasised: "Government's prime concern with action against UBW is public safety."

"Thus, ours is a policy of priorities based on safety, to ensure that UBW do not pose a threat to the public or to owners and occupiers. We endeavour to do our best but our resources are not unlimited."

Under this policy, Mrs Yu added, priority enforcement action is taken against:

UBW posing imminent danger to life and property or seriously endangering public health;

Ek UBW under construction or newly constructed;

*

UBW for demolition or remedial measures, recommended by government departments or public bodies such as district boards, environmental improvement committees and building management co-ordination committees;

and

* major UBW contravening provisions of both the Buildings Ordinance and lease

conditions.

"Actions against UBW outside these priorities are deferred for the time being but they will be upgraded when appropriate," Mrs Yu explained.

"The Buildings Department both responds to reports or referrals and initiates clearances in different districts, some of them being major operations," she said.

End/Wednesday, January 4, 1995