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Buildings Department strives for early completion of emergency works
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     The Buildings Department today (February 10) continues emergency building works at the site where a building collapsed last month.  The department is making every effort to remove the dangerous parts of the buildings concerned as soon as possible, so that the actual condition of the building can be assessed safely.

     A Buildings Department spokesman said the department had been working round the clock with the contractors. The strengthening works at the site of the collapsed building, 45J Ma Tau Wai Road, and the vicinity had almost been completed. The workers would start to remove the loose parts from 45H today afternoon.  They would proceed to remove the seriously damaged portion facing Ma Tau Wai Road on 3/F and 4/F of the building by tomorrow (February 11).

     "The portion of the building is seriously damaged.  It may collapse any time. It must be cleared so that our staff can enter the buildings safely to assess the structural condition of 45G and 45H," the spokesman said. "If the situation permits, we may consider arranging for the residents to return to their units to collect their valuable items."

     However, the spokesman stressed that such a decision could not be made until department staff had been able to enter the two buildings and completed their assessment. The building at 45H was seriously damaged and may need to be demolished completely to avoid serious accidents.

      "We place utmost importance to the safety of the residents," he said, "if it is dangerous for them to move around or move anything inside the buildings at 45G and 45H, the Buildings Department will co-ordinate with other departments and arrange for them to get back their belongings after the demolition."

     The department had taken appropriate measures to prevent the adjoining buildings from being affected by the emergency works.  These included steel shorings and protective screen outside the buildings.

     If all goes well, the temporary closure orders for the affected units at 49 Ma Tau Wai Road will be lifted, with a view to letting the residents concerned return home for the Lunar New Year. For the buildings at 45E and 45F, which are also temporarily closed for the emergency works, the closure orders will be lifted as soon as the situation permits and safety is ensured.

Ends/Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:03

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