ENG-1976 — Page 143

HOUSING AND LAND

103

The Buildings Ordinance and allied legislation, together with two Codes of Practice, were converted into metric terms when the Metrication Ordinance 1976 came into effect. The use of non-metric units, with certain exceptions, will be pro- hibited in plans submitted after March 1977. To give private architects and engineers the opportunity to prepare themselves for the mandatory use of metric units, they were given the option of submitting plans in metric form from the beginning of 1976.

The implementation of the Child Care Centres Regulations 1976 further widened the functions of the Buildings Ordinance Office, which now inspects premises used or proposed to be used as child care centres. A total of 95 inspections and reports were made during the year to assist the Director of Social Welfare to determine the suitability of premises for registration under the Child Care Centres Ordinance.

To obviate the need for private developers to approach more than one govern- ment department to seek approval for building plans, a-centralised processing system was introduced in October. Under this system, building plans are submitted only to the Buildings Ordinance Office, which assumes a general co-ordinating role in the approval of the plans. But certain matters such as lease modifications must still be resolved by the developer with the appropriate department.

The dangerous buildings division of the Buildings Ordinance Office deals with the demolition or repair of dangerous buildings. Other activities include routine inspection of suspect buildings and action in response to minor complaints relating to defective drainage. During the year some 65 buildings were closed and demolished, compared with 149 in the previous year. There were 334 repair notices served as against 453 in 1975, and 67 defective drainage notices were served.

One appeal was heard against a decision made by the Building Authority_under the Buildings Ordinance, but it was denied by the Appeals Tribunal. In addition, dis- ciplinary proceedings were initiated against one authorised person and one registered contractor. For the first time, private property owners were prosecuted in respect of various offences connected with unauthorised building work, resulting in eight con- victions with varying fines.

Management of Buildings in Multiple Ownership

In 1976 there were 127 owners corporations formed under the Multi-storey Buildings (Owners Incorporation) Ordinance. This legislation, passed in 1970, enables owners of buildings in multiple ownership to incorporate for the better management of their building, particularly in its maintenance and environmental improvement. By the end of 1976 the total number of corporations was 918. The city district offices and the New Territories district offices offer assistance and advice to owners either on incorporation or on the creation of mutual aid committees in these buildings. By the end of 1976, there were 2,214 mutual aid committees registered.

Rent Control of Pre-War Premises

Legislation controlling rents of pre-war premises and providing security of tenure was instituted by proclamation immediately after the war and was later