Survey to map state of buildings before work begins on tunnel
A survey to record the condition of old buildings in Tai Kok Tsui that might be affected by construction of a tunnel for the high-speed railway is to be carried out next month. A report will be made available to residents and if their flats are damaged during construction, repairs will be begun within seven days.
Yau Tsim Mong district councillors were briefed on the measures yesterday, with officials keen to calm fears of residents on the tunnel route. Residents have led strong opposition to the railway project, fearing their blocks could be damaged because the railway runs under their homes - many of them more than 40 years old.
Undersecretary for Transport and Housing Yau Shing-mu said after yesterday's meeting that the MTR Corporation was experienced in building railway tunnels and the authorities were satisfied there should be no building safety issue.
To address residents' concerns, Yau said a survey to determine the conditions of the buildings that might be affected by the rail project would be conducted after the Lunar New Year holidays. 'A report will be made available to residents so there will be proof of the building conditions in case there are claims of damage in the future,' Yau said.
Reports of damage during construction would be responded to within a day and repair work would start within a week, Yau said.
But some councillors remained unconvinced. Henry Chan Man-yu said: 'Residents are still very scared. Mr Yau boasted that the Buildings Department had checked the buildings and found that they were safe. But minutes after we were told of this, the news of the building collapse in Hung Hom broke. And when we told Mr Yau of the news, he just did not know what to say.'
Yau declined to comment on the Hung Hom case.
'In the Tai Kok Tsui case, a structural survey has been done and it has been satisfied that building a tunnel under the buildings should be safe and should not cause problems to the structure of the buildings,' he said.
The legislature this month approved HK$66.9 billion in funding for the controversial high-speed rail project, which is to link the city to the national express rail network.
Opponents said the authorities were forcing through the project without enough public scrutiny.
