Development undersecretary Eric Ma was addressing the Legislative Council
RAYMOND.YEUNG@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Wednesday, 25 May, 2016, 5:54pm
The collapsed Chan Tai Ho Hall at City University. Photo: Dickson Lee
A top government official said owners bear ultimate responsibility when building rules get broken, at an emergency Legislative Council inquiry into the collapse of a grass-covered rooftop at City University.
Since the collapse different parties – architects, government departments and university management – have tried to shirk responsibility.
But on Wednesday development undersecretary Eric Ma Siu-cheung said the Buildings Ordinance clearly stated that the building’s owner is the main responsible party. He stressed though that, as an investigation into the incident was underway, he would not comment specifically.
Last Friday the huge roof of the Chan Tai Ho Multi-purpose Hall, in the Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre, fell in without warning, injuring three people. The green pitch on the rooftop was planted in December last year and only finished in April.
Accountancy sector lawmaker Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong had asked Ma if the government, as a general policy, planned to assign criminal and civil liability to the accredited professionals who advise on greening works.
When Leung pointed out that he wasn’t asking about any specific case, but in general, Ma confirmed that the owners were mainly responsible.
He told legislators the Architectural Services Department had already inspected green projects on government buildings with “large span metal structures”, like the one which collapsed at the sports centre.
He said the four complexes – Tin Shui Wai and Victoria Park swimming pools, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex and part of Ko Shan Theatre – were all safe. He added that the Housing Department had not seen any safety risk in eight green rooves on eight public housing estates.
Also in attendance was Education Secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kim, who was accused of trying to offload responsibility to schools which have carried out greening projects.
The Education Bureau issued a circular to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong on Tuesday to remind them of the need to comply with regulations for green roof projects, and that they must get professional advice.
He said 66 primary and secondary schools had completed such works, 62 of the projects fully paid for by the Environment and Conservation Fund, which has stringent rules. The four remaining schools raised funds themselves.
Asked if building inspectors would be sent to these schools to ensure the safety, Ng only said the bureau’s district officers would get in touch with the schools to follow up.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1954052/hong-kong-official-tells-city-university-roof
