Since 2017, 12 out of 22 dangerous buildings in the city have been demolished, the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) director Lai Weng Leong recently revealed in response to an inquiry from lawmaker Ron Lam.
Lai disclosed that 19 buildings had been identified as under risk and that three others were classified as under immediate risk. Of the total, nine risky and three urgently risky buildings have been dismantled, with other buildings are being “constantly monitored.”
Another 87 buildings had been identified as being poorly maintained, Lai said.
He also disclosed that about 600 notifications have been issued to building owners or owners’ associations to remind them to repair buildings that had been identified as slightly poorly maintained in a timely fashion.
Moreover, Lai explained that, pursuant to the Urban Construction Legal System, building or unit owners are obliged to regularly inspect and maintain their buildings. Owners will be legally responsible in cases where damage or injuries are caused by poor maintenance.
Urgent cases must be reported to the government immediately, Lai said.
In addition, citing the Housing Bureau (IH), Lai introduced that the government owns a building repair fund that has an umbrella of subsidy schemes. The objective of the fund is to provide support to building or unit owners to regularly maintain public facilities within the buildings, including power networks.
Citing the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), Lai added that public facilities, such as public power networks, are privately owned in a legal sense. Individual owners are obligated to ensure their safety.
The DSPA will continue supervising power supplier CEM to ensure the safety and stability of the public section of its power network.
The DSSCU added that data related to its handling of poorly maintained buildings and building repairment is available on its website. Meanwhile, the bureau has only logged complaints or referrals about aged buildings that it received.
