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The Independent Checking Unit (ICU) in the Housing Department obtained a Closure Order from the Hong Kong District Court today (April 2) to close part of the Hau Tak Shopping Centre in Tseung Kwan O.
Closed for safety reasons following the fire damages last week, the affected areas included the market on the ground floor (including the mezzanine floor above), the supermarket and the carpark on the first floor, East Wing of the shopping centre.
"It is prudent to safeguard public safety by not granting entry by the public before completion of investigation and urgent repair work by the owner of the building, The Link Management Limited (The Link)," a spokesman for the ICU said.
"Permission to re-enter the building will be granted to approved people including building professionals to carry out investigation and urgent repair works," the spokesman said.
"We will give priority to process the remedial proposals to be submitted by The Link to enable them to complete the remedial works as soon as possible," he added.
The affected areas had been boarded up upon the serving of a Notice of Intention to apply for a Closure Order in the evening of last Friday (March 30) to prohibit entry.
The ICU, under delegation from the Building Authority, applied for the Closure Order from the court under Section 27 of the Buildings Ordinance.
Ends/Monday, April 2, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:46
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