The To Kwa Wan building collapse last week, which killed four people with two still missing, has heightened public concern over the maintenance and safety of dilapidated tenements. The five-storey residential building on Ma Tau Wai Road was more than 50 years old, and the cause of the collapse is still being investigated. The accident reflects the urgency of building repairs, and the government has responded promptly.
The collapsed building had undergone repairs in compliance with a government maintenance order four years ago and had been issued with another order last month.
In fact, the administration had earlier submitted the Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2010 to implement a mandatory building and window inspection scheme. The tragedy will no doubt speed up the legislative process for the scheme to proceed.
There are about 3,900 buildings in Hong Kong that are more than 50 years old and the government expects the figure to reach 8,000 by 2010. Having so many old residential structures can be likened to a time bomb; it concerns the safety of many, so the government should handle things with a sense of urgency.
However, in the aftermath, we have seen politicians and many others with vested interests jump on the bandwagon to criticise the administration for not doing enough to ensure building safety. Honestly speaking, many of their proposals are irrational and absurd.
For example, one politician criticised the government for relying on building owners to supervise maintenance. He proposed setting up a government management scheme in each district to help owners manage building safety by appointing professionals to carry out inspection and maintenance work.
A senior representative of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers claims that many residents of tenement buildings have carried out unauthorised renovations that might have compromised the structural integrity of their buildings, leaving many at risk of collapse. He urged the government to carry out urgent checks on all 'over-aged' buildings.
