XN000022-1995-05-24 — Page 69

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- 46.

Answer:

Mr President,

The Government has in fact been keeping a close watch on the structural conditions of private buildings and undertaken inspections ourselves. In 1989, the Buildings Department (BD) initiated a scheme of external visual inspections on the structural conditions of buildings. 60,000 buildings have been inspected and categorised according to their degree of danger. 266 buildings have been demolished and almost 5,000 repair orders served to 16,000 buildings. Some 40,000 buildings are considered unlikely to require any major action within the 5 years from the time of initial inspection.

In October 1994, BD also commissioned a consultancy study into the conditions of buildings constructed between 1946 and 1958 which have cantilevered structures. The survey is aimed to ascertain the current structural conditions, assess the durability and deterioration trends, and recommend a strategy for the future inspection and investigations, of these buildings. The study is scheduled to be completed at the end of this year. However, when steel corrosion was found to be the cause of collapse of a canopy in Aberdeen last year, the BD considered that "younger buildings" constructed between 1959 and 1980 should also be surveyed. The Administration hope to seek funds for this proposal shortly.

The Government shares the view that building owners should be responsible for maintaining their properties. A mandatory scheme requiring them to carry out regular inspections would help to further strengthen building safety and maintenance. The Administration will be better placed to examine the need and practicability of a mandatory building inspection scheme when findings of the above study and survey are available. In the meantime, the Administration will continue with publicity efforts to educate building owners to properly maintain their properties and Building Management Co-ordination Teams in the districts will also provide advice on building maintenance to owners and resident associations.

End/Wednesday, May 24, 1995