# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asks to what extent asbestos-based materials in Urban Council properties is a problem or danger to public health. He also asks how many Urban Council venues containing asbestos constitute a serious health risk or hazard and what short and long term plans are being taken to deal with the situation.
The use of asbestos as a component building material has become an emotive issue and before answering the questions put by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, it is necessary to put the issue into its proper historical perspective.
Asbestos-based materials have been used for many years in the construction of buildings. The tensile strength, insulating and heat-retardant properties of asbestos made it particularly useful. However, over the last few years the health hazard from the inhalation of asbestos fibres has become well-known and as a result the installation of asbestos-based materials has generally been avoided in government or Council buildings since July 1983.
When asbestos fibres are totally bound into a material, e.g. with cement in asbestos cement sheets and pipes or with pure vinyl in floor tiles, there is no risk of release of fibres from the installed materials unless the product becomes damaged. The risk of damage, and hence of release of fibres, is greater where the fibres are more loosely bonded with vermiculite and mica as in some acoustic plasters and in plaster-type insulation for pipe lagging. It is international practice therefore to distinguish the relative risk factors with the inherent stability of the different types of materials in which asbestos forms a constituent part and their application. It is the Department's view and that of Government Professional Advisors, including the Environmental Protection Department, that no Urban Council venue constitutes any immediate health risk or hazard due to the presence of asbestos-based building materials. This is not to say that there is complacency about this matter or that the potential hazards of deteriorating or damaged materials are not recognized or catered for.
As regards the second question, the Department commissioned Architectural Services Department two years ago to carry out a survey of all existing UC facilities to identify the location, type, extent and condition of any asbestos. This phased survey was completed in January 1989. Of the 1347 venues inspected, a total of 78 Council venues are suspected of containing asbestos-based materials. Most are of a low risk type such as roof sheeting, or are of the higher risk pipe lagging located in boiler rooms not accessible to the public and therefore considered low risk. In addition to these 78 venues some asbestos-based materials were found in earlier routine inspections. Such materials have been already removed from seven venues in conjunction with planned maintenance works.
As regards the last question, the condition of all asbestos-based materials is monitored by Architectural Services Department's district maintenance surveyors at 6 monthly intervals for signs of deterioration. In addition, staff of the Urban Services Department have been reminded to watch for signs of deterioration and if this is observed, to call in Architectural Services Department for an immediate inspection.
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
If deterioration is confirmed then, depending on the risk category and the accessibility of the location of asbestos-based materials to members of the public and USD staff, removal is initiated. If the risk category of the deteriorating materials is low, removal will be combined with the next planned maintenance but with enhanced monitoring. If no deterioration is observed, removal is not initiated even if routine planned maintenance is scheduled; monitoring, however, continues. On this basis the proposed abatement work for UC facilities has been scheduled so that by the end of the 1989-90 financial year all the asbestos will be removed except that in the low risk categories of boiler room pipe lagging and roofing sheets. In the experience of Architectural Services Department, sudden failures of pipe lagging are rare and, because usually in places inaccessible to the public, easily contained and the asbestos removed without inconvenience to the public. As for asbestos roofing the Department has advised that because of the bonding of the material and the fact that the venues containing these materials are usually free-standing and open to the air then the risk from fibre release would be almost insignificant.
Removal of asbestos in public buildings is entrusted only to companies that have the equipment and the expertise for dealing with such work safely. The manner in which asbestos is removed is governed by particular specifications clearly spelt out in the works contract. The works are subject to close supervision by the Architectural Services Department and by the Factory Inspectorate and Occupational Health Divisions of the Labour Department to ensure that all health requirements are met. In addition, frequent monitoring of the level of asbestos in the air is undertaken. The areas where asbestos removal is undertaken are closed to the public.
An annual progress report on the asbestos removal programme will be presented to Council for their information. With these measures in operation, it is believed that a well-balanced approach to safeguarding the health of users and minimising the cost and disruption of abatement works has been achieved.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): Mr. Chairman, of the 78 council venues which are suspected of containing asbestos-based materials, could I ask during the current financial year on how many of these venues will abatement work commence?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Sir, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked how many of these 78 venues which have asbestos-based material will be removed in this financial year. By the end of 1989–90 financial year, except that in the low risk categories of pipe lagging in boiler rooms and roofing sheets, all asbestos-based material will be removed. As regards the exact figure, I don't have the information in hand, perhaps I can ask for more information from the USD and reply to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN at the meeting of the Select Committee.
8
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asks to what extent asbestos-based materials in Urban Council properties is a problem or danger to public health. He also asks how many Urban Council venues containing asbestos constitute a serious health risk or hazard and what short and long term plans are being taken to deal with the situation.
The use of asbestos as a component building material has become an emotive issue and before answering the questions put by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, it is necessary to put the issue into its proper historical perspective.
Asbestos-based materials have been used for many years in the construction of buildings. The tensile strength, insulating and heat-retardant properties of asbestos made it particularly useful. However, over the last few years the health hazard from the inhalation of asbestos fibres has become well-known and as a result the installation of asbestos-based materials has generally been avoided in government or Council buildings since July 1983.
When asbestos fibres are totally bound into a material, e.g. with cement in asbestos cement sheets and pipes or with pure vinyl in floor tiles, there is no risk of release of fibres from the installed materials unless the product becomes damaged. The risk of damage, and hence of release of fibres, is greater where the fibres are more loosely bonded with vermiculite and mica as in some acoustic plasters and in plaster-type insulation for pipe lagging. It is international practice therefore to distinguish the relative risk factors with the inherent stability of the different types of materials in which asbestos forms a constituent part and their application. It is the Department's view and that of Government Professional Advisors, including the Environmental Protection Department, that no Urban Council venue constitutes any immediate health risk or hazard due to the presence of asbesto-based building materials. This is not to say that there is complacency about this matter or that the potential hazards of deteriorating or damaged materials are not recognized or catered for.
As regards the second question, the Department commissioned Architectural Services Department two years ago to carry out a survey of all existing UC facilities to identify the location, type, extent and condition of any asbestos. This phased survey was completed in January 1989. Of the 1347 venues inspected, a total of 78 Council venues are suspected of containing asbestos- based materials. Most are of a low risk type such as roof sheeting, or are of the higher risk pipe lagging located in boiler rooms not accessible to the public and therefore considered low risk. In addition to these 78 venues some asbestos- based materials were found in earlier routine inspections. Such materials has been already removed from seven venues in conjunction with planned maintenance works.
As regards the last question, the condition of all asbestos-based materials is monitored by Architectural Services Department's district maintenance surveyors at 6 monthly intervals for signs of deterioration. In addition, staff of the Urban Services Department have been reminded to watch for signs
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
of deterioration and if this is observed, to call in Architectural Services Department for an immediate inspection.
If deterioration is confirmed then, depending on the risk category and the accessibility of the location of asbestos-based materials to members of the public and USD staff, removal is initiated. If the risk category of the deteriorating materials is low, removal will be combined with the next planned maintenance but with enhanced monitoring. If no deterioration is observed, removal is not initiated even if routine planned maintenance is scheduled; monitoring, however, continues. On this basis the proposed abatement work for UC facilities has been scheduled so that by the end of the 1989-90 financial year all the asbestos will be removed except that in the low risk categories of boiler room pipe lagging and roofing sheets. In the experience of Architectural Services Department, sudden failures of pipe lagging are rare and, because usually in places inaccessible to the public, easily contained and the asbestos removed without inconvenience to the public. As for asbestos roofing the Department has advised that because of the bonding of the material and the fact that the venues containing these materials are usually free-standing and open to the air then the risk from fibre release would be almost insignificant.
Removal of asbestos in public buildings is entrusted only to companies that have the equipment and the expertise for dealing with such work safely. The manner in which asbestos is removed is governed by particular specifications clearly spelt out in the works contract. The works are subject to close supervision by the Architectural Services Department and by the Factory Inspectorate and Occupational Health Divisions of the Labour Department to ensure that all health requirements are met. In addition, frequent monitoring of the level of asbestos in the air is undertaken. The areas where asbestos removal
undertaken are closed to the public.
An annual progress report on the asbestos removal programme will be presented to Council for thier information. With these measures in operation, it is believed that a well balanced approach to safeguarding the health of users and minimising the cost and disruption of abatement works has been achieved.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, of the 78 council venues which is suspected of containing asbestos-based materials, could I ask during the current financial year on how many of these venues will abatement work commence?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Sir, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked how many of these 78 venues which have asbestos-based material will be removed in this financial year. By the end of 1989–90 financial year, except that in the low risk categories of pipe lagging in boiler rooms and roofing sheets, all asbestos based material will be removed. As regards the exact figure, I don't have the information in hand, perhaps I can ask more information from the USD and reply Mr. CHEONG-LEEN at the meeting of the Select Committee.
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