XN000022-1995-12-15 — Page 18

- 16

T

Owners urged to remove defective advertising signs

The Buildings Department today (Friday) urged property and shop owners to take the initiative to remove poorly maintained or abandoned advertising signs for public safety.

The Senior Structural Engineer (Dangerous Buildings) of the department, Mr Robinson Chung, made the appeal after a clearance operation this afternoon to remove a number of abandoned advertising signs in Mong Kok.

Mr Chung said the signs were found to be potentially dangerous during a district-wide survey on advertising signs in Mong Kok from September this year.

"So far we have inspected more than 1,600 signs and 45 of them were found to be defective. They will be removed by the Buildings Department's contractors and the removal cost will be recovered from the owners.

"The survey on advertising signs will continue and similar clearance operations will be carried out in other districts," Mr Chung said.

Noting that public safety was the Government's prime concern, Mr Chung pointed out that it was the property or shop owners' responsibility to ensure safety erection and maintenance of advertising signs.

"There are more than 180,000 advertising signs in the territory and the figure increases by about six per cent each year.

"Before putting up overhanging signboards, people should seek professional advice for safe design and maintenance. They must also ensure that the signs are properly maintained after installation," he said.

Members of the public could also make reports to the Buildings Department if they identify any advertising signs which are posing danger to public safety. Mr Chung said.

The 24-hour Building Safety hotline is 2626 1234.

End