Parts of building to be torn down to allow safety inspectors access

Parts of the To Kwa Wan tenement block that was damaged when its neighbour collapsed two weeks ago will be demolished today.

The third and fourth floors of block H at 45 Ma Tau Wai Road have become dangerous and 'may collapse any time', a Buildings Department spokesman said yesterday.

The collapse of 55-year-old block J on January 29, which killed four people and left dozens homeless, created a large hole in the wall on the fourth floor of block H, where a structural column was broken.

The government investigation into the collapse is expected to deliver findings at the end of this month.

Workers have started removing loose parts hanging outside block H, and will knock off the enclosed balconies of the third and fourth floors today. Demolition will take two or three days to complete. Ultimately, the whole block may need to be demolished, the spokesman said.

Hui Siu-wai, assistant director of buildings, said it would be a challenge to remove the structures on the two floors without damaging adjacent buildings. The loose structures and the balconies had to be cleared so staff could enter block H and G to assess their condition, he said.

'If the situation permits, we may consider arranging for residents of the two blocks to return to their units to collect their valuables,' he said.