XN000022-1997-04-30 — Page 47

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Measures to ensure safe conditions of buildings

Following is a question by the Hon Choy Kan-pui and an oral reply by the acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Patrick Lau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In regard to the "problem canopies", will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

of the current total number of "problem canopies" listed as requiring inspection by Buildings Department (the Department);

(b)

of the total number of "problem canopies" which have been inspected by the Department to date and the results of such inspections;

Reply:

(c)

(d)

of the average time required for the inspection of a "problem canopy" and the estimated time required to complete the inspection of all the "problem canopies"; and

of the measures put in place by the Government to ensure that those "problem canopies" which have not been inspected by the Department will not endanger public safety?

(a)

(b)

(c)

After the falling of a canopy from a building in Aberdeen in end 1994, Buildings Department has compiled a list of 1,200 canopies of similar design and age for investigation. These canopies are all in slab form, have a span of more than 1.5m and are mostly found on buildings constructed in 1980 or before. However, I must emphasize that, before the investigation findings are available, it should not be assumed categorically that all of them are "problem canopies".

Of the 1,200 canopies on the list for investigation, 130 canopies have been investigated. Among these cases, we have served 20 investigation/repair orders and taken emergency shoring action in 3

cases.

For canopies that are free from obstruction, the average investigation time per canopy is about 2 weeks. Our scheduled completion of the investigation of the 1,200 canopies is by March 1998.