TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 138

1

CONFIDENTIAL 機密

procedures have been put into effect which should prevent any further

tructures from Loing erected or increased in height in breach of the height

Testrictions.

4.

It was decided (GSC em 30/75) that brings in excess of the height limit but which were occupied would be the subject of further examination and

Annex A and Annex B contain details of these separate recommendations.

buildings as follows:-

(i)

(ii).

Annex A gives details of 13 buildings of which particulars were collected in 1975. These buildings

(a)

(b)

exceed the height restriction by between 7 and 28.5 feet, involving between 1 and 3 storeys;

have been occupied between a few months and 4 years;

(c) are occupied mostly by owners.

Annex B contains a list supplied by the Director of Building Development of all buildings in the Walled City which exceed the · the height limits imposed under the Hong Kong Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance. From this list it appears that 12 buildings exceed the height restrictions by 10 ft. or more, 12 exceed the height restrictions by more than 5 but less than 10 ft. and 14 cxceed the height restrict- ions by less than 5 feet.

Problems of Enforcement.

5.

As long as there continue to be buildings in the Kowloon Walled City which obviously exceed the height limits, developers of new buildings will

During the last year the problems be encouraged to try their luck again.

of enforcing the ordinance in respect of the occupied buildings referred to in the previous paragraph have been examined and the attached note (Annex C) which is based on a paper originally prepared by the CDC(KC) summarises the problems involved. This paper applies specifically to the buildings listed in Annex A but the same general considerations will apply in the case

The difficulty of en- of all buildings against which action has to be taken. forcement is clearly much greater in the case of buildings in which apartments ha have already been sold and/or occupied than in the case of new and unoccupied

years, the buildings. Most of those listed have been occupied for around 3 majority by owner occupiers. Offers of alternative accommodation in public housing estates are unlikely to be sufficient inducement to secure the co- operation of occupants. Owner/occupiers would not only have to write off their capital investment but also they would have to pay rent and rates which they do not pay in the Walled City. The standard of their flats is also generally higher than that available in public housing estates.

6.

Moreover, although enforcement against buildings which exceed the height restrictions by 5 ft or more is likely to affect 110 units with approx- imately 700 occupants, it is possible that some of the other occupants in the

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

/buildings.

•

機密