TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 158

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One example is the definition of 'clear height' in the

amended Regulation 3(3). The Administration has advised that the

term should be interpreted as height measured from structural

finish to structural finish, instead of its literal meaning.

The Ad Hoc group has pointed out that the term has neither been consistently used nor consistently interpreted throughout the Regulation, and proposed that it should be replaced

by a term that means exactly what the Administration would

interpret it to be so.

Similarly although_Regulation 24 has been amended to standardize minimum ceiling heights, the application of the

regulation to the height measured from below peripheral beams is

unclear. The Ad Hoc Group has also suggested further amendments

to avoid uncertainty in interpretation.

However, the Administration maintains that no amendments

should be introduced until a detailed study of their implications

on other Regulations has been made. Instead, the Administration

has undertaken to put these to the Building Authority for further

professionals, consideration and to consult the professions, with a view to

inclusion in the next package of amendments.

Meanwhile the Administration indicates that a Practice

Note for Author rized Persons will be prepared to deal with the

measurement of heights, including 'clear height', and the interpretation on peripheral beams.

Whilst Practice Notes are extremely useful to Authorized Persons, I would urge that for those interpretative details that

have already been established for a considerable length of time in Practice Notes, the Administration should consider incorporating

them into the Building Regulations to give them proper legal effect. A case in point is the existing Practice Note setting out