on record where injury or loss of life by fire has occurred as a result of unauthorized works or misuse of premises.
5.19. Action by the control and enforcement sections is usually initiated by reports and complaints received from the public or other Government departments but, in view of the shortage of staff and the large numbers of complaints received, priority must of necessity be given where the unauthorized works appear to present a serious hazard to life or health or where structural stability may be affected. Buildings containing works, on which action is to be taken, are carefully surveyed and all significant variations from the approved plans recorded. This is followed by the service of statutory notices on the various owners requiring them to reinstate their premises and, where these do not achieve the desired result, by interviews in which owners are left in no doubt as to the nature of the unauthorized work in question, the hazards thereby created and the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance. It is sometimes necessary to engage the Government contractor to carry out remedial works where the owner fails to do so himself.
5.20. Enforcement action is in many cases a slow and time-consuming procedure and this is often made more difficult through multi-ownership of premises and the natural resistance encountered from occupants faced with carrying out remedial works at their own cost and, perhaps, the loss of some additional space they have created. Good progress is however being made despite these difficulties and frustrations, but it is clear that, apart from any other factors, a major improvement in the situation can only be brought about by members of the public themselves through an awareness of their responsibilities under building laws designed to protect them.
5.21. The number of statutory notices served during the year stood at 4,097, compared with 3,898 in the previous year.
DANGEROUS BUILDING DIVISION
Chief Building Surveyor:
K. B. O'SULLIVAN, B.Arch., A.R.I.B.A., M.R.J.A.I.
5.22. Although the primary aim of the Division is to eliminate structurally dangerous buildings by demolition or repair, this is a goal which tends to recede due to persistent and progressive deterioration of the fabric of a large proportion of the buildings constructed before 1947. The position is further aggravated by fires, typhoons, rainstorms
on record where injury or loss of life by fire has occurred as a result of unauthorized works or misuse of premises.
5.19. Action by the control and enforcement sections is usually initiated by reports and complaints received from the public or other Government departments but, in view of the shortage of staff and the large numbers of complaints received, priority must of necessity be given where the unauthorized works appear to present a serious hazard to life or health or where structural stability may be affected. Buildings containing works, on which action is to be taken, are carefully surveyed and all significant variations from the approved plans recorded. This is followed by the service of statutory notices on the various owners requiring them to reinstate their premises and, where these do not achieve the desired result, by interviews in which owners are left in no doubt as to the nature of the unauthorized work in question, the hazards thereby created and the requirements of the Buildings Ordin- ance. It is sometimes necessary to engage the Government contractor to carry out remedial works where the owner fails to do so himself.
5.20. Enforcement action is in many cases a slow and time- consuming procedure and this is often made more difficult through multi-ownership of premises and the natural resistance encountered from occupants faced with carrying out remedial works at their own cost and, perhaps, the loss of some additional space they have created. Good progress is however being made despite these difficulties and frustrations, but it is clear that, apart from any other factors, a major improvement in the situation can only be brought about by members of the public themselves through an awareness of their responsibilities under building laws designed to protect them.
5.21. The number of statutory notices served during the year stood at 4,097, compared with 3,898 in the previous year.
DANGEROUS BUILDING DIVISION
Chief Building Surveyor:
K. B. O'SULLIVAN, B.Arch., A.R.I.B.A., M.R.J.A.I.
5.22. Although the primary aim of the Division is to eliminate structurally dangerous buildings by demolition or repair, this is a goal which tends to recede due to persistent and progressive deterioration of the fabric of a large proportion of the buildings constructed before 1947. The position is further aggravated by fires, typhoons, rainstorms
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