TNAG-1723-FCO40-2436-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 37

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-13 January 1988

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R. NGAI: Sir, in case of accidents caused by abandoned signboards, who will be 》 liable if the original owners of those signboards cannot be found and how will the victims be compensated?

SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, in those circumstances every effort would be made to trace the person who was originally responsible for putting up the sign. Efforts are in any case made in connection with the expenditure but it is quite possible that in such an event there would be no obvious person who was liable for somebody injured and therefore, as I said before, the Government has to concentrate on ensuring the safety of all signs which are up, abandoned or otherwise.

MR. CHENG: Sir, will Government inform this Council whether there were any potentially dangerous signs removed not by voluntary means? If the answer is yes, how did Government deal with these cases?

SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, there were and they were removed under section 105 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance by the unit which I mentioned in my original answer.

MR. TAI: May I ask what are the costs incurred so far in the removal of signboards and is there any recourse against the offenders for reimbursement of the costs?

SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: During the first nine months of this unit's operation we spent about $223,000 on removing 440 signs. About $20,000 of this is likely to be recovered. In considering the overall picture though, through the work of this unit, some 1000 odd signs were removed by the owners themselves and so, considering the progress made I think the expenses have been well worthwhile.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: I have noted two more Members who wish to ask supplementaries. I would draw the limit at that so that we can deal with other questions.

DR. HO: What action will Government take to inform the public as to how to make complaints with the authorities about dangerous signs?

SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, no special machinery is available for telling the public about this. The creation of the unit was announced and it is known to district offices, it is known to the Public Enquiries Section of the Lands and Works Group of departments. I do not think, judging by the steady stream of complaints that they get, that any need for special publicity is there at present but I will take advice on the matter.