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A spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (June 29) that the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme will be implemented tomorrow (June 30). The MBIS and the MWIS cover all private buildings aged 30 years or above and 10 years or above respectively, except for domestic buildings not exceeding three storeys in height.
The BD spokesman said that the aim of the two schemes is to arrest the long-standing problem of building neglect in Hong Kong. Under the schemes, the BD will arrange to select 2 000 and 5 800 target buildings for the MBIS and the MWIS respectively on a yearly basis. The selection of target buildings will be conducted at quarterly intervals, each with 500 and 1 450 target buildings respectively. The target buildings selected each year will represent a mix of buildings in different conditions and age profiles in different districts.
In addition, to minimise disturbance to building owners, the BD will synchronise the implementation of the MBIS and the MWIS, whereby for target buildings selected for implementation of the MBIS (2 000 buildings), the MWIS will also be implemented at the same time. In this way, owners can carry out inspection and repair works under both schemes concurrently. The remaining 3 800 target buildings will implement the MWIS only.
The BD will initially issue pre-notification letters in July 2012 to the owners/owners' corporations of the first quarterly batch of the selected buildings to alert them to get prepared and organised for the carrying out of the required inspections and repairs. For target buildings selected for both the MBIS and the MWIS, the statutory notices will be issued six months after the issuance of pre-notification letters. For target buildings selected for the MWIS only, the statutory notices will be issued one to two months after the issuance of the pre-notification letters.
To dovetail with the implementation of the MBIS and the MWIS, the Government, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), will launch various assistance schemes to help owners comply with the statutory requirements. Owners may contact the BD on matters regarding the enforcement of the statutory notices. For matters on the provision of information on technical and financial assistance, a one-stop contact point will be provided to the owners for contacting the HKHS/URA. The BD will also, in collaboration with the HKHS and the URA, organise district briefing sessions for owners of target buildings to explain the details of the mandatory inspection schemes and the assistance packages available.
Owners who do not comply with a statutory notice for mandatory building or window inspection without any reasonable excuse may be prosecuted. Also, owners who do not comply with a statutory notice for mandatory window inspection without any reasonable excuse may firstly be served with a penalty notice for a fixed fine of $1,500.
The BD has launched extensive publicity and public education campaigns, including TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest. General guidelines on the two mandatory schemes, publicity pamphlets and posters will be distributed to the public to introduce the two schemes. The Code of Practice for the two schemes has also been published for reference by building professionals and contractors.
Information and details about the MBIS and the MWIS, as well as a list of registered inspectors and qualified persons, are available on the BD website (www.bd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:34
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