TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 90

Question No. 4

Speech by Hon. CHAN Nai-keong, CBE, JP, Secretary for Lands and Works, in answer to question by Hon. Lydia DUNN, CBE, LLD, JP, at Legislative Council on 6 November 1985

Question: In the light of a recent report that there is

concrete deterioration in Hong Kong's buildings, would the Government inform this Council:

(a)

whether such a problem exists and if so; (b) what is the scale of the problem in the

public and private sectors; and

(c)

what actions are being taken to remedy it?

Sir,

Yes, a problem exists with regard to concrete deterioration in Hong Kong's buildings.

However, this problem is not a serious one at present but it is growing. Given good workmanship and proper material, concrete buildings can have an extremely long life. In the

private sector, over the last two decades, 31 buildings have

been demolished because of serious defective concrete,

representing about 0.12% of all concrete framed buildings in the territory. In the public sector, in view of the regular maintenance programme, the situation is significantly better

and there are no cases of defective concrete which cause the building to be in a state of imminent failure.

Both preventive and remedial measures are taken to

overcome the problem of concrete deterioration of buildings.

Provisions under the Buildings Ordinance require all

construction materials to comply with standard specification

and the submission of certificates of origin, chemical

composition and strength tests results of steel reinforcement prior to construction. During construction, test reports on

concrete cubes are required and at various stages Buildings Ordinance Office staff carry out site inspections. After

construction, planned surveys are conducted by the Buildings Ordinance Office staff who also respond to reports from the general public. Where buildings require attention, repair

orders are served on owners. In default situations, direct

action is taken by Government.

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第四項問題

一九八五年十一月六日立法局會議席上

地政工務司陳乃強給鄧蓮如議員所提問題的答覆