Press in October 1995
| Press October 26, 1995 | |
| Headline : | Consultancy report On Kwai Chung Estate released |
| Content : |
The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority A consultancy report released today (Thursday) by the Housing Department has confirmed the satisfactory overall structural integrity of Blocks 16 and 17 in Kwai Chung Estate. The final report by Harris and Sutherland (Far East) Ltd., the consultancy firm commissioned to investigate the cause of a spalling incident in the estate in June this year and to reappraise the structural integrity of the two blocks, found no loss of strength of the concrete in these blocks. Commenting on the findings of the consultancy firm, the Assistant Director of Housing (Maintenance), Mr Vincent Tong Wing-shing, said, "The cores taken during the investigation on the structural integrity of the two blocks confirm the strength of the concrete in the blocks." "Based on the results of the analysis of these cores and those taken previously, the consultancy firm is of the opinion that the overall structural integrity of the blocks is satisfactory," Mr Tong said. "We are confident that with regular inspections and maintenance, the blocks will remain safe and habitable until they are redeveloped," he added. Copies of the final report are available in the Housing Information Centres and Kwai Chung Estate Office for public information. Turning to the Special Repair Programme which had been implemented since July to provide more effective and proactive maintenance to all older estates not under the CARE (condition, appraisal, repair and examination) programme, Mr Tong reported that surveys and repairs to 97,441 flats in 32 estates, including Kwai Chung estate, had been carried out. "Among the 6,799 flats in Kwai Chung Estate, condition surveys to 5,779 flats (85 per cent) have been completed and subsequent repair works are put in hand," Mr Tong said. He pointed out that despite three attempts were made to each flat, the survey teams were unable to get access to the remaining 15 per cent of the domestic units. "Furthermore, tenants of 327 flats have not yet allowed the repair teams to carry out repair work in their units for various reasons and this has affected the progress of the Special Repair Programme," he said. For the 90,642 flats in the other 31 estates, 69,145 flats (76 per cent) were surveyed. Mr Tong said the Department was also facing an access problem in these estates, and tenants of some 2,800 flats surveyed have not agreed to have repair work carried out in their units. "The Department will continue to make efforts to accomplish the task by making more evening visits and appealing to tenants for cooperation," he emphasised. End/Thursday, October 26, 1995 NNNN |