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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung, visited the Buildings Department (BD) this afternoon (November 23) to learn more about the operation of the department and to take the opportunity to meet its staff.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Cheung first met with the Director of Buildings, Mr Hui Siu-wai, and the directorate staff. He noted that the BD is committed to promoting building safety; setting and enforcing safety, health and environmental standards for private buildings; and improving the quality of building development.
Mr Cheung then visited the Hong Kong West Section of the New Buildings Division to learn more about its operation. The Section exercises overall control of private building developments in the Central and Western District and the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District. He was briefed on how the Section examines and approves building plans of new buildings and plans of alteration or addition works to existing buildings to ensure private building construction works comply with the standards laid down in the Buildings Ordinance.
Mr Cheung also toured the Building Information Centre under the Corporate Services Division. He learned that the Centre provides inspection and copying services of the latest approved plans and related documents of existing completed private buildings in Hong Kong. Members of the public may apply for inspection or issue of copies of these building records by submitting the application forms and paying the prescribed fees. The public can also use the Building Records Access and Viewing On-line (BRAVO) system via the Internet to retrieve and inspect building and minor works records in various districts in Hong Kong after registration.
During the visit, Mr Cheung visited Section B of the Existing Buildings Division, one of the six geographical sections. The Section's main duty is to ensure the building safety of private buildings after the issue of Occupation Permits. It takes enforcement actions against unauthorised building works, dangerous buildings and defective drainage systems. Briefed by the staff, Mr Cheung learned that the Section is also one of the two sections in the department that are responsible for large-scale enforcement operations on illegal subdivided domestic flats in industrial buildings.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Cheung met staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on relevant departmental issues and to learn more about the challenges that front-line staff face when they perform their duties. He praised colleagues' efforts and encouraged them to continue to provide high-quality, efficient and professional services to the public so as to ensure building safety in Hong Kong.
Ends/Monday, November 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:00
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