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Following is a question by the Hon Tang Siu-tong and a reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (April 30):

Question:

Regarding the foundation strengthening and remedial works for Tin Chung Court and the remedial works for Tin Yuet Estate in Tin Shui Wai, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the latest estimated expenditure of the foundation strengthening works for Blocks K and L of Tin Chung Court, and whether the works for Block L will be completed by the end of this month, as this Council was advised earlier;

(b) of the causes of the cracks and seepage recently found in a number of flats in Tin Yuet Estate, including Yuet Fu House and Yuet Kwai House where remedial works have just been completed, as well as the follow-up measures taken in this regard; and

(c) whether, when the prospective tenants were allocated flats in Yuet Fu House and Yuet Kwai House, they were informed that major remedial works had been carried out in these two housing blocks; if not, of the reasons, and whether it will approve their applications for transfer on grounds of concern about the structural safety of the blocks?

Reply:

Madam President,

My reply to the three-part question is as follows :

(a) The foundation strengthening works for Block K of Tin Chung Court were completed in April last year. The foundation remedial works for Block L were basically completed in late April this year, with the construction of pile-cap being the last outstanding item. The total expenditure will be within the original budget of $163 million.

(b) The Housing Department has completed the investigations on the cracks and water seepage found in some flats in Tin Yuet Estate. These problems are caused by unsatisfactory workmanship at individual flats, resulting in minor non-structural cracks and water seepage at joints when the jointing materials between precast partition walls shrink. These problems are unrelated to building structure and the previous remedial works in Yuet Fu House and Yuet Kwai House. Repairs of cracks and water seepage for the majority of the flats have already been completed. The Housing Department is liaising with tenants of the remaining flats on the timing of repair work.

(c) The Housing Department had inspected Yuet Fu House and Yuet Kwai House before resident intake to ensure the effectiveness of remedial works and structural safety. Hence, the Housing Department does not draw prospective tenants' attention to the remedial works and in general does not accept applications for transfer because of anxiety about structural safety.

End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003

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