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A Government spokesman today (June 13) announced that the Buildings Department, Drainage Services Department, Highways Department and Water Supplies Department had completed investigations into the ground subsidence incident at Li Yuen Street East which occurred on April 24.
Investigations of Drainage Services, Highways and Water Supplies departments revealed that the water main, drainage pipes and various utility services beneath Li Yuen Street East were not associated with the ground subsidence.
The Buildings Department's investigation revealed that the foundation works on the site at 20-28 Li Yuen Street East had likely caused underground soil movement which, together with the heavy rainfall around the period of the subsidence, resulted in the ground subsidence.
The Buildings Department's investigation included examining the foundation plan submitted by the registered structural engineer of the site; interviewing the site personnel after the incident; reviewing the reports submitted by the authorised person, resident structural engineer and the registered contractor of the site; as well as analysing the information obtained from the ground investigation carried out after the incident, and measurement of the volume of soil on site.
The Buildings Department would seek advice from the Department of Justice and consider further actions to be taken under the Buildings Ordinance.
After the incident, the authorised person and resident structural engineer of the site had been requested to carry out a full review of the underground soil condition and the piling construction method and submit proposal of enhancement measures to ensure safety and stability during construction of the foundation works.
The piling works on the site would not be allowed to resume until the resident engineer had submitted a satisfactory proposal and accepted by the Buildings Department.
Relevant departments will continue to closely monitor the condition of lands and buildings surrounding the concerned building site to ensure that public safety is safeguarded.
After the incident, the Buildings Department had conducted a comprehensive inspection of other private construction sites using piling method similar to that of the Li Yuen Street East site in mid-May. It was found that the lands or buildings adjacent to those sites had not been affected by the construction works.
Ends/Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:37
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