ENG-1999 — Page 279

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

supermarkets). A total of 184 Fire Safety Directions under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance were served to require the improvement of fire safety measures in these premises. Another 1 085 Fire Safety Improvement Directions were issued to 142 commercial buildings under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) (Amendment) Ordinance to upgrade fire safety measures in old commercial buildings. built before 1973. It is intended that new legislation will be introduced in 2000 to upgrade fire safety standards in private buildings with priority action on composite and residential buildings.

The Buildings Department provides emergency services to deal with dangerous buildings and advertising signs. A total of 930 calls under the 24-hour service for emergencies were received during the year, and 92 per cent of the cases were attended to within three hours. A further 4596 reports on potential dangerous building elements were received. 27 per cent of the emergency calls. and other reports concerned danger from external building elements and loose finishes, with the remaining cases relating mainly to water seepage, dangerous slopes and damage by fire. Survey of advertising signs continued with 36 961 signs inspected, resulting in the removal or repair of 1 494 signs. The department is seeking to establish an effective control scheme for advertisement signboards and during the year consulted the public on a proposed system of registration.

The voluntary Building Safety Inspection Scheme aimed at promoting preventive maintenance of buildings was implemented in April 1997. In 1999, more than 23 000 advisory letters were sent to 670 building blocks. As a result, owners of 109 building blocks have appointed Authorised Persons/Registered Structural Engineers to carry out investigation and necessary repair works. Regular inspection programmes were extended to include more dilapidated buildings over 20 years old and canopies of high-risk construction form with a view to requiring owners to investigate and repair defects.

The Building Safety Improvement Loan Scheme was set up in August 1998 to provide low interest loans for building owners to undertake maintenance and improvement works according to the set standard of the Inspection Scheme. In 1999, 56 applications were approved and $2.2 million in loans granted. The effectiveness of the scheme was being reviewed in the light of the slow response rate.

The Buildings Department also issued Dangerous Hillside Orders at the recommendation of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department. During 1999, 204 statutory orders were served on building owners requiring slope upgrading works to be carried out. In addition, investigations of a cumulative total of 1352 filled slopes were completed with 58 orders issued requiring investigation and repair of water-carrying services affecting private slopes.

The problem of ageing buildings without proper maintenance attracted extensive public attention during the year. Given the seriousness of the problem, the Buildings Department is preparing proposals to require owners of ageing buildings in poor condition to undertake preventive maintenance works. The department appealed to all building owners for their co-operation and support in removing unauthorised building works and to maintain their buildings properly.

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