ENG-2000 — Page 274

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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with removal orders and will now become a regular feature of the Buildings Department's enforcement strategy.

Preparatory work for the next 'blitz' clearance of UBWS started in the last quarter of 2000, with notifications sent to owners of 404 target buildings in 16 districts throughout Hong Kong. The Buildings Department intends to clear 900 buildings of such works in 2001 and a further 1 000 in 2002. The department is also continuing to clear illegal rooftop structures, giving priority to single staircase buildings as these pose the greatest fire hazards. It took action on 220 such structures in 2000.

During the year, 15 860 reports on UBWs were processed, 18 297 UBWs were removed and 242 prosecutions were instigated against offenders for erecting UBWS or failing to comply with removal orders. These resulted in 185 convictions with fines totalling $1,712,405.

Joint inspections with the Fire Services Department were made on 180 prescribed commercial premises (banks, betting centres, jewellery shops, shopping arcades, supermarkets) and specified commercial buildings, under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance. A total of 127 Fire Safety Directions were served to require improvement of fire safety measures in these premises. Another 1 598 Fire Safety Improvement Directions were issued against 160 specified commercial buildings built before 1973.

The Buildings Department provides emergency services to deal with dangerous buildings and advertising signs. A total of 634 calls were received under the 24-hour service for emergencies during the year, and 99.1 per cent of the cases were attended to within three hours. A further 4 613 reports on potentially dangerous building elements were received. Some 23 per cent of the emergency calls and other reports concerned danger from external building elements and loose finishes. Surveys of advertising signs continued with 37 971 signs inspected, resulting in the removal or repair of 646 signs.

The Co-ordinated Maintenance of Buildings Scheme was introduced to provide better co-ordinated support to building owners in tackling their building management and maintenance problems. A pilot scheme, targeting 150 problematic buildings, was launched in September. Under the scheme, the Buildings Department co-ordinates input from all participating departments, including the Home Affairs Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Fire Services Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Water Supplies Department, to advise or assist the building owners in addressing problems of repair or maintenance of their buildings.

In 2000, 281 applications were approved and loans totalling $102 million were granted under the Building Safety Improvement Loan Scheme that was set up in 1998. Consideration is being given to broadening the ambit of the loan scheme to promote greater use of the fund.

With the completion of the five-year Accelerated Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme, a 10-year Expanded LPM Programme from 2000 to 2010 has been committed by the Government to enhance proper maintenance of slopes. In 2000, 155 statutory orders were served on building owners requiring them to investigate and upgrade their substandard slopes under this programme. In addition, investigations of a cumulative total of 1 093 filled slopes were completed with 73