HK Island buildings in class of their own, says university study

Twenty per cent of buildings in a random survey of Hong Kong Island's eastern district are A-class, compared with just 7 per cent in Kowloon.

Using a building quality index it has devised, the University of Hong Kong's real-estate department surveyed nearly 300 buildings in 2004 and last year.

Of 160 buildings surveyed on Hong Kong Island, 20 per cent were class A, 35 per cent class B and 34 per cent class C. Eleven per cent were unclassified.

The comparative figures for 133 buildings that were surveyed in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok areas of Kowloon were: class A 7 per cent; class B 46 per cent; and class C 37 per cent. Ten per cent of these buildings were unclassified.

The index measures fire safety, maintenance of concrete surfaces, outer walls and drains, the age of the buildings, structural safety and hygiene conditions. Class C buildings require repair and renovation.

Daniel Ho Chi-wing, associate professor of real estate and construction, said buildings were unclassified when there was not enough data to evaluate them. Such buildings typically exhibit problems such as overcrowding.

Department chairman Chau Kwong-wing said it aimed to survey all buildings in a city-wide study costing $10 million. Flat owners would be able to access the data free of charge.