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scepage is not necessarily poor drainage on floor slabs or pipe leakage. It might be due to leakage of air-conditioners or external walls. This cannot possibly be detected with chemical dye test. Do we ask the Buildings Department to step in in the early stage or do we refer the case to the Buildings Department only after some stalling, when the Department fails to find out the truth, not even with the chemical dye test?
MR. JOSEPH Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I do not have in hand the information about when the Buildings Department steps in, but we know that the Buildings Department is planning to commission a consultant to carry out a technical study.
Ms. Grace Au YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—As mentioned just now, it is stated in paragraph 6 in the reply document that of the 7 000-odd cases, only about 30% has had the cause of water seepage identified. The situation is quite serious and deserves our attention. I don't know whether the Department has considered whether the main methods we are now using, that is, visual checks or chemical dye tests, are adequate. Has it considered procuring additional special equipment, such as infrared detector? Would the Department say something about whether there is such a need?
The second question I want to ask is that paragraph 7 in the reply mentions that those cases of which the cause of water seepage cannot be traced will be referred to the Water Supplies Department or Buildings Department for further investigation. Would the Department, as a responsible department, find out the progress of the case afterwards? For example, would the department concerned inform the Department of the result of the referral, or would the Department ask for the final result of the case? Has the Department considered making such efforts?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese)—Mr. Chairman, so far there has been no further technical way to trace the cause and therefore the Buildings Department will carry out a technical study. About the use of infrared, it is not a bad idea. The chemical dye the Department is using illuminates when light shines on it, so as to facilitate the trace of the cause of water seepage. So, it is in a way similar to the high-tech method using infrared.
As to the cases referred to the Buildings Department, the Department does follow them up. If even the Buildings Department and Water Supplies Department fail to find out the cause of water seepage, the Department would make a full report and explain to the complainant. There is follow-up action on this.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—As this issue is closely connected with livelihood, I want to ask Mr. CHAN through the Chairman whether the Department can be asked to prepare a paper for the Public Health Select
Page 299 of 654
of 654
Page 299 of 654
296
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
scepage is not necessarily poor drainage on floor slabs or pipe leakage. It might be due to leakage of air-conditioners or external walls. This cannot possibly be detected with chemical dye test. Do we ask the Buildings Department to step in in the early stage or do we refer the case to the Buildings Department only after some stalling, when the Department fails to find out the truth, not even with the chemical dye test?
MR. JOSEPH Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I do not have in hand the information about when the Buildings Department steps in, but we know that the Buildings Department is planning to commission a consultant to carry out a technical study.
Ms. Grace Au YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—As mentioned just now, it is stated in paragraph 6 in the reply document that of the 7 000-odd cases, only about 30% has had the cause of water seepage identified. The situation is quite serious and deserves our attention. I don't know whether the Department has considered whether the main methods we are now using, that is, visual checks or chemical dye tests, are adequate. Has it considered procuring additional special equipment, such as infrared detector? Would the Department say something about whether there is such a need?
The second question I want to ask is that paragraph 7 in the reply mentions that those cases of which the cause of water seepage cannot be traced will be referred to the Water Supplies Department or Buildings Department for further investigation. Would the Department, as a responsible department, find out the progress of the case afterwards? For example, would the department concerned inform the Department of the result of the referral, or would the Department ask for the final result of the case? Has the Department considered making such
efforts?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese)—Mr. Chairman, so far there has been no further technical way to trace the cause and therefore the Buildings Department will carry out a technical study. About the use of infrared, it is not a bad idea. The chemical dye the Department is using illuminates when light shines on it, so as to facilitate the trace of the cause of water seepage. So, it is in a way similar to the high-tech method using infrared.
As to the cases referred to the Buildings Department, the Department does follow them up. If even the Buildings Department and Water Supplies Department fail to find out the cause of water seepage, the Department would make a full report and explain to the complainant. There is follow-up action
on this.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—As this issue is closely connected with livelihood, I want to ask Mr. CHAN through the Chairman whether the Department can be asked to prepare a paper for the Public Health Select
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