ENG-1985 — Page 214

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

In 1985, new legislation was introduced for the mandatory provision of facilities for the handicapped in certain categories of buildings. The review of other building legislation continued. Appeals and litigation cases concerning building law remained at about the same level as in 1984.

Since the establishment of the Control and Enforcement Branch in the Building Ordinance Office, in January 1984, there has been an increasing awareness, among members of the public, of the problems associated with illegal structures and unauthorised building works. Large scale enforcement operations, for example at a building in San Po Kong where more than 650 illegal extensions were removed, and at a new building in Kwai Chung in which over 1 100 illegal obstructive gates were taken down, attracted wide coverage in the media. In its second year, the branch made 21 154 inspections and issued 6 312 removal orders while 7 558 complaints were received. In an attempt to curb the proliferation of illegal structures, publicity through television and radio, and by posters, was stepped up. This initiative will be maintained and expanded.

With regard to the maintenance of dilapidated private buildings, the Building Authority closed 43 dangerous buildings, and served 620 orders requiring the demolition or repair of dangerous buildings, eight orders requiring remedial works to be carried out to dangerous slopes and 83 orders requiring repairs to defective drainage.

Apart from administering the Buildings Ordinance and allied legislation, the Buildings Ordinance Office also offered expert advice to various licensing authorities on the suitability of premises for the proposed licensed uses. In this respect, 2 684 applications for food businesses, 673 for places of public entertainment, 205 for schools, 61 for child care centres and 28 for oil storage installations were examined. The office also dealt with 373 applications for permitted work permits concerning the control of building construction noise for environmental reasons.

Port Works

Sections of seawall extending 900 metres were built around the coast of Hong Kong Island, with a further 450 metres constructed to the north of Stonecutters Island. For the disposal of industrial and domestic wastes and other developments, seawalls were also built at Junk Bay and Cheung Sha Wan. At Chai Wan, a 200 metre breakwater was completed to provide shelter for mooring vessels.

Following the completion of the North Point (East) Passenger Ferry Pier, an extension to an existing pier on Lamma Island was being constructed to improve ferry services. Other piers under construction included one for the Army and another for the Correctional Services Department.

Geotechnical Control

Many of the government's building and civil engineering projects have to be constructed on the steep slopes which are common features of Hong Kong's terrain. The geotechnical aspects of these require careful consideration and are often responsible for a major part of the overall cost. To ensure that economic engineering solutions are achieved consistent with high standards of design and construction, the Geotechnical Control Office continued to offer its geotechnical advisory service for government projects. Under this service, the GCO undertook geotechnical designs for 39 projects and gave advice on 81 other projects to departments in the Lands and Works group. Examples of these include the Tai Hang Road widening undertaken by the Highways Office, the Table Hill Service Reservoir project by the Water Supplies Department, and the Diamond Hill Quarry Development project under the control of the Civil Engineering Office.