At least three opportunities to save a To Kwa Wan tenement building were missed before its fatal collapse last week, it emerged yesterday as questions were being asked about whether the city's building and redevelopment systems are working properly.
First, district councillors did not nominate the site when asked which buildings needed to be inspected under the government maintenance scheme launched last year.
Second, the Urban Renewal Authority considered redeveloping the area last year but dropped the plan because many flats had already been bought by private developers.
Third, at least two orders were issued to remove illegal structures on the ill-fated building but neither had been complied with.
The tenement, block J at 45 Ma Tau Wai Road, was reduced to rubble in seconds on Friday afternoon, with the loss of four lives. Citing the tragedy, town planners and a government adviser yesterday questioned whether the city's building and redevelopment systems are working properly.
Since the launch in March last year of the Development Bureau's maintenance scheme, under which HK$2 billion in refurbishment grants is available to owners of old buildings without owners' corporations, district councils have been consulted on what buildings should be included.