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Following is a written question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic S W Wong, in the Legislative Council meeting this afternoon (Wednesday):
Question: It was reported that cracks had recently been found at various places in On Ning Garden ("ONG") of Tseung Kwan O and such cracks were allegedly caused by the construction works on the Mass Transit Railway ("MTR") Tseung Kwan O Extension project of the MTR Corporation in the vicinity of ONG. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the Housing Department has held meetings with the Owners' Corporation of ONG to explore the possible solutions to this problem and offered assistance; if not, of the reasons for that;
(b) whether it has investigated the causes of such cracks; if so, of the outcome; and
(c) where the causal relationship between the cracks and the MTR Tseung Kwan O Extension project works nearby is established, of the remedial measures that it and the MTR Corporation will adopt?
Reply
Madam President,
The Owners' Corporation of On Ning Garden and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) held a meeting recently to discuss the alleged claim by owners that the cracks were caused by the MTRC's engineering works outside the estate. As this is a private matter between the Owners' Corporation and the MTRC, the Housing Department was not involved.
Staff of the Buildings Department have inspected the cracks on the ground in the external areas near Towers 2 and 3 of On Ning Garden in the presence of representatives of the Owners' Corporation and the MTRC, and have concluded that they are minor defects which do not affect the structural safety of the buildings. The MTRC has been asked to take positive steps to minimise the effect of its works on adjoining buildings. The Buildings Department will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The relevant parties are still investigating the cause and the extent of the problem, and will consider the appropriate remedial actions where necessary.
End/Wednesday, November 17, 1999
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