HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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{ USD) and the Buildings Department (BD) will try to find out the causes of water leakage by conducting inspections and investigations. Afterwards, USD will inform the owners incorporated or occupants concerned to take actions. I have the following questions:
(a) What is the average time required, from the date of receipt of such complaints, for the Departments to commence inspections and investigations?
(b) What is the average time required, from the date of receipt of such complaints, for the Departments to successfully detect the cause of water seepage?
(c) In the past three years, how many complaint cases regarding water leakage in domestic premises were received? Of these, how many cases did the Departments succeed in tracing the causes of water leakage?
(d) If USD and BD cannot trace the causes of water leakage in domestic premises, what follow-up actions will USD take?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-sut, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this is a four-part question.
On the first part of the question, water seepage complaints are investigated within seven working days after receipt of the complaint. This is a requirement laid down in the Department's performance pledge.
The second part of the question asks about the average time required to successfully detect the cause of water seepage. It is not possible for me to give a precise answer to this question. The time taken can be from a few minutes to several days, depending on the nature of the problem. Most problems arise in multi-storey buildings. The design and construction of such buildings provides many potential sources of water seepage and innumerable channels for water to find its way from a source to other parts of the building. Tracking down the original source of seepage can be a time consuming exercise, particularly where the amount of seepage is small or of an intermittent nature.
In addition to visual checks, it is often necessary to resort to chemical dye tests, involving the use of water soluble colour dyes, to prove or determine the original source of water seepage. This frequently involves the Department's Health Inspectors having to gain access to other premises in order to carry out such visual checks or tests. In private buildings this can be difficult without the cooperation of the other owners or occupiers concerned. Often also checks have to be done outside normal working hours as the occupants of other premises may themselves be away during the day.
If, after physical inspection and chemical dye testing, staff of the Department are still unable to trace the source, the case is normally referred to the Director of Water Supplies and the Director of Buildings for further
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
291
{ USD) and the Buildings Department (BD) will try to find out the causes of water leakage by conducting inspections and investigations. Afterwards, USD will inform the owners incorporated or occupants concerned to take actions. I Inave the following questions:
(a) What is the average time required, from the date of receipt of such complaints, for the Departments to commence inspections and investigations?
(b) What is the average time required, from the date of receipt of such complaints, for the Departments to successfully detect the cause of water seepage?
(c) In the past three years, how many complaint cases regarding water leakage in domestic premises were received? Of these, how many cases did the Departments succeed in tracing the causes of water leakage? (d) If USD and BD cannot trace the causes of water leakage in domestic
premises, what follow-up actions will USD take?'
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-sut, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this is a four-part question.
On the first part of the question, water seepage complaints are investigated within seven working days after receipt of the complaint. This is a requirement laid down in the Department's performance pledge.
The second part of the question asks about the average time required to successfully detect the cause of water seepage. It is not possible for me to give a precise answer to this question. The time taken can be from a few minutes to several days, depending on the nature of the problem. Most problems arise in multi-storey buildings. The design and construction of such buildings provides many potential sources of water seepage and innumerable channels for water to find its way from a source to other parts of the building. Tracking down the original source of seepage can be a time consuming exercise, particularly where the amount of seepage is small or of an intermittent nature.
In addition to visual checks, it is often necessary to resort to chemical dye tests, involving the use of water soluble colour dyes, to prove or determine the original source of water seepage. This frequently involves the Department's Health Inspectors having to gain access to other premises in order to carry out such visual checks or tests. In private buildings this can be difficult without the cooperation of the other owners or occupiers concerned. Often also checks have to be done outside normal working hours as the occupants of other premises may themselves be away during the day.
If, after physical inspection and chemical dye testing, staff of the Department are still unable to trace the source, the case is normally referred to the Director of Water Supplies and the Director of Buildings for further
Page 294 of 654
Page 294 of 654
Page 294 of 654
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