2023-07-05 20:30:42
Concrete falls off Po On Building, Mong Kok Road
The sudden “concrete rain” on Po On Building on Mong Kok Road on Sunday hit a truck and caused a catastrophe. The next day, the Buildings Department issued a statement stating that the loose materials on the external wall had been removed. Any protective measures; two days later, until yesterday morning (5th) the building fell once more with “concrete rain”, and some passers-by were cut by debris, saying to themselves, “Fortunately, one step faster”, otherwise it would be unimaginable. Director of the Development Bureau Ning Hanhao paid close attention to the incident and asked the Director of Buildings (Yu Baomei) to explain the situation of the building. After the director ordered the director to do so, yesterday followingnoon some scaffolding workers came to the building and quickly erected the inclined shed and set up protective nets to prevent further falling of concrete and concrete from hitting passers-by. In the evening, the Buildings Department confirmed that the material of the exterior wall on the street yesterday was the same unit as the accident on Sunday. Some Members criticized the Buildings Department for another accident yesterday following Sunday’s inspection, which undermined the public’s confidence in the Buildings Department.
Near Po On Building, No. 30 Mong Kok Road, Tung Choi Street, at 8:00 a.m. yesterday, the outer wall of the concrete was peeled off once more. A large amount of concrete was scattered on the nearby roads and sidewalks. The largest concrete was as big as a fist by visual inspection. Passers-by were injured. After the accident, the police officers arrived at the scene to close the traffic lane on Mong Kok Road. The Buildings Department personnel, accompanied by firefighters, climbed up the ladder to inspect the exterior wall of the building, took pictures and recorded it, and dispatched drones to inspect the situation. At regarding 1:00 p.m., workers arrived at the scene to set up inclined sheds and protective nets in the building, and set up sheds in the units involved to remove plasters that were in danger of loosening.
District councilors urge expedited building inspections
Yau Tsim Mong District Councilor Xu Tak-leung criticized that the Buildings Department staff had just completed the inspection, and then there was concrete peeling off a few days later, which made people feel bad and damaged the public’s confidence in the Buildings Department; it suggested that the government immediately appoint contractors to remove and repair illegal buildings. Then collect relevant expenses from the building corporation. He continued to point out that the Buildings Department conducts visual inspections, but many structural problems cannot be observed from the outside. “I saw the wall cracked when I entered the house. There are structural problems, which cannot be found by visual inspection. I think visual inspection of concrete structure is a mistake.” judge”.
Xu Deliang also pointed out that there are many old buildings in Yau Tsim Mong District. At present, the Buildings Department has only issued mandatory building inspection orders to 692 of them. He suggested that the government should appoint manpower to inspect the condition of all buildings over 50 years old in the area, and shorten the deadline for issuing maintenance orders.
Ning Hanhao: It is planned to appoint a contractor first to handle high-risk projects
Development Secretary Ning Hon-ho said following attending the Legislative Council yesterday that the authorities are highly concerned regarding another fall of concrete in the Po On Building, and have asked the Director of Buildings to explain the situation of the building, including reporting whether protective measures are required. For the buildings involved that have received mandatory building inspection notices but have not complied with them, the bureau will ask the Buildings Department to examine how many buildings have undergone inspections but have not completed repairs, and make specific recommendations following integrating the data, in order to force the owners to To fulfill the responsibility as soon as possible; and will actively consider entrusting the contractor to do risky projects first, and then recover the money from the owner.
The Buildings Department issued a release in the evening stating that it will review the overall situation, including the number of buildings that have not complied with the building inspection notice and formulate an action timetable, report to the Development Bureau and explain to the public. The Buildings Department will review the list of buildings in Hong Kong that have not yet complied with the mandatory building inspection notice for common parts, and deploy manpower to strengthen enforcement, including urging owners of high-risk buildings to expedite building inspection and repair works, and government contractors to carry out the work first before reporting to the owners Charges, etc., may be prosecuted if necessary.
According to the law, owners who fail to comply with the mandatory building inspection notice, without reasonable excuse, commit a criminal offence. Ning Hanhao understands that due to the epidemic situation in the past few years, the owners expressed that it was difficult to gather for meetings and discussions, and reminded the owners to be cautious and take the relevant notices seriously.
Baoan Building is 57 years old. The Buildings Department revealed on Monday that in 2014 it issued a mandatory building inspection notice to the owners’ corporation of the building for the common parts of the building. In March 2021, following the OC was approved by the URA for funding under the Building Rehabilitation Subsidy Scheme, the registered inspectors engaged submitted the inspection report to the Buildings Department in March this year. The consulting company is preparing the tender documents for the repair project. In late July, we will discuss with the corporation regarding bidding for contractors.
Xie Weiquan criticized the lax enforcement of mandatory building inspections
Regarding the 9 years from the issuance of the mandatory building inspection notice to the start of the repair project in the building involved, Legislative Council member Xie Weiquan criticized the authorities for lax enforcement and urged that the penalties for violations of the mandatory building inspection notice be increased. The Buildings Department stated that it issued a building inspection notice for the common parts of the building earlier. Although the building involved has undergone a building inspection, the repair work still needs to be completed, and the relevant mandatory building inspection statutory notice is deemed to be complied with. The department will continue to follow up seriously, and require the corporation to submit a project schedule, repair as soon as possible, and comply with the statutory notice; if the corporation fails to start the project within a reasonable time, the department will arrange for a government contractor to repair on behalf of the owner, and then report to the owner Landlord recovers fees.
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