Letter_to_Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the articles from SCMP about the collapse of a tenement in To Kwa Wan in January 2010. I was saddened but not at all surprised that such an accident was happened in Hong Kong. Tenants living in old buildings usually pay low rent and owners do not feel the need to maintain their properties properly. As a result, staircases are often blocked by junk, there is improper fire safety equipment, and many buildings are run-down. Yet no one cares. After this, there are too many unauthorized building works and illegal rooftop houses in the old buildings in To Kwa Wan and some other old districts. As the buildings have been heavily altered with the additional of unapproved partitions and drainage systems, the structural damage took place triggering the collapse. To avoid this kind of accident, I think the government should setup a rule to ensure that the buildings which over 30 years must undergo an annual safety inspection every year. And the report should be sent to government for reference. Any structural changes that are made to a flat must be first given the green light by the Buildings Department before any work can take place. Repair order will be issued to any loose, cracked concrete and finishes on walls, and follow-up once every two weeks. I suggested the department cancel the practice of sending flat owners a non-binding advisory letter before a statutory repair order, as the letter was usually ignored. A surveyor and a structural engineer should be present in preliminary investigations of potentially serious building complaints, instead of relying on a surveyor alone, as happened in To Kwa Wan. For To Kwa Wan building collapsed case, the government can have a consultation to collect advices and needs from affected residents. In my opinion, I think the government should resume the titles of the collapsed buildings for the Urban Renewal Development Projects. Qualified resident property owners can entitle a statutory compensation, in appropriate case will also be given an ex-gratia allowance or additional allowance. As for the affected and eligible tenants will be arranged to move to public housing by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, or apply for the ex-gratia allowance. Vani Li