ENG-1983 — Page 192

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

139

Quarry Bay. The 17.2 hectare site will house a population of 36 000 when development is complete around 1988.

A New Code of Practice on wind effects replacing the 1959 edition and a new Code of Practice on oil storage installations replacing the 1978 edition were published. The provi- sion of ventilation for gas water heaters was made mandatory and additional safety provisions for lifts were also made. The study of other parts of the Buildings Ordinance and Building Regulations continued.

As well as administering the statutory provisions for the design, planning and construc- tion of new buildings, the Buildings Ordinance Office deals with dangerous buildings and unauthorised building works. During the year, 92 dangerous buildings were closed, of which 56 were emergency cases. In addition, 533 notices requiring the demolition or repair of dangerous buildings, 58 notices requiring remedial works to dangerous slopes, and 129 notices requiring repairs to defective drainage were served. Action on unauthorised building works, however, continued to lag behind the increasing number of cases reported to the Building Authority. During the year, 2 779 buildings were visited in connection with suspected unauthorised building works resulting in 82 notices being served.

Geotechnical Control

The exceptionally heavy rains experienced in 1983, especially during the first half of the year, resulted in the issue of landslip warnings. More than 400 landslip incidents were reported to the Geotechnical Control Office of the Engineering Development Department for advice on emergency precautions, remedial measures and evacuations.

A particularly heavy downpour on June 17, when 236 mm of rain fell in four hours, resulted in 78 landslip incidents including two major slope failures on Hong Kong Island. The first was near Magazine Gap and severed Peak Road, necessitating emergency remedial measures including the erection of a temporary bridge over the landslip site to restore traffic. By the end of the year, permanent remedial works were nearing completion. The other major slope failure occurred at Tin Wan Hill Road, Aberdeen. This failure threatened a new home for the aged, the opening being delayed until permanent remedial works to the slope were completed in September.

The passage of Typhoon Ellen in mid-September brought 200 mm of rain and caused 47 landslips. A landslip above Hoi Pong Village on the slopes of Mount Davis killed a fire services officer and seriously injured another on duty at the site. Permanent evacuation of 92 squatter huts was required. Another landslip at Telegraph Bay claimed the lives of two sisters when mud filled their family's hut. Six squatter huts were permanently evacuated at this site.

Also during the year, substantial geotechnical engineering services were provided to government departments and offices; site investigation services occupied an average of 21 land-based and three marine-based drilling rigs; aerial photograph interpretation studies and the Geological Survey of Hong Kong continued; and geotechnical engineering advice was given on 185 government engineering projects and 150 town planning and engineering proposals. A Special Projects Division was set up to carry out research and development work on projects identified as being of importance to geotechnical engineering in Hong Kong. In addition to a number of internal design guides and technical notes, the division produced a second edition of its popular Geotechnical Manual for Slopes which will be on sale in early 1984.

―

The heavy demand for materials testing services covering soil, rock, concrete, steel, asphalt, timber and other building materials - exceeded the capacity of the Public