XN000022-1995-11-17 — Page 14

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"Government cannot go it alone," Mrs Yu explained. "Government resources (including Buildings Department staff) are funded by taxpayers. We cannot expect taxpayers to give us unlimited funds or resources. We must have the co-operation of others. The problem of illegal structures is a community problem. We need community support in tackling the problem and, better still, in not creating the problem.

"Illegal structures may pose danger to their own life and property, their families and members of the public," Mrs Yu said.

The Government is tackling the problem by a three-prong strategy aimed at long-range and sustained measures:

(a) containment by enforcement on priorities;

(b) deterrence by legal and disciplinary action; and

(c) promotion of awareness of attitude change by public education and public

information efforts.

This approach is both responsive (to public reports) and proactive (in clearances and in prosecutions).

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Through this overall strategy, illegal building activities have been reduced in newly-completed buildings. Buildings Department inspections have almost doubled from 11,000 in 1988 to 21,000 in 1994. Public compliance with demolition orders has tripled from 2,200 to 6,400 during the same period.

Meanwhile, the Government is working out proposals for introducing a mandatory scheme to require building owners to have their property inspected and certified by authorised persons and registered structural engineers at regular intervals. This scheme envisages that owners will also be required to remedy any defects and to remove unauthorised building works.

The Buildings Department had also reviewed fines under the Buildings Ordinance in August 1994 and recommended that they be increased about three times their present levels.