Walkup building in Hung Hom collapses

(1 hr 49 mins ago)
A six-storey walkup in 45, Ma Tau Wai Road in Hung Hom crumbled at about 1.30pm. It is not clear if the entire building or only part of it collapsed.

One woman died, two were injured and four are missing.

A nearby shop owner said she heard a loud sound and when she went out to look, she saw the building had disappeared in a cloud of dust. She said the ground floor of the building had been undergoing renovations.

Buildings close to the walkup are being evacuated.

So they took out a key supporting column during the ground floor renovations?

馬頭圍道唐樓全座倒塌
疑有人被困


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下午 1時許，紅磡馬頭圍道 45號一座至少 4層高的唐樓，突然全座下塌，塌下的石屎散滿行人路，甚至跌至對出馬路的行車線，沙塵籠罩四周。

數十名消防員已到場，警方已封鎖現場。大批居民已經疏散到空地，有人情緒激動。現場消息指有人被困。


馬頭圍道塌唐樓
挖土機出動清石屎

消防及警方正於發生唐樓下塌的紅磡馬頭圍道，搜救傷者，當局正動用一部挖土機，清理堆積如山的石屎，亦有消防員徒手清除瓦礫。

住客逃出生天
慘叫：乜都冇晒啦！
2010年01月29日 (03:02 pm)


紅磡馬頭圍道 45號一座至少 4層高的唐樓，下午 1時許，突然全座倒塌，塌下的石屎散滿行人路，甚至跌至對出馬路的行車線，沙塵籠罩四周，現場消息指，一名女子獲救後，已沒有呼吸脈搏，獲送院搶救，消息指仍然有人被困。

有逃出生天的住客疏散到地面後，情緒激動，眼見住所全座倒下，慘叫：「冇晒啦，乜都冇晒啦！」

塌樓廢墟救出 3人
特首抵紅磡現場

下午 3時 18分，特首曾蔭權到達馬頭圍道的唐樓下塌現場視察，消防員隨即上前向曾講述情況，隨行者包括發展局局長林鄭月娥。

此外，被困雙連唐樓單位內的另一名男子，已由消防員利用雲梯救回地面。目前為止，已有 3名住客先後獲救，其中一名女子被救出時，已沒有呼吸脈搏。


住客屋內感震動
即拉女兒跑出大廈

救護車亦已到場戒備，警方已將附近馬路封鎖。事發下午 1時許，馬頭圍道 45號一座至少 4層高的唐樓，突然全座下塌，現場消息指有人被困。

紅磡馬頭圍道 45號一座唐樓，於下午 1時突然全座倒塌，目前已有 3人獲救，其中，一名女子救出時相信已沒有呼吸脈搏，另外一男一女住客則無大礙。由於現場有消息指仍然有人被困，故消防員不敢以大型挖掘機進行挖掘。

有住客接受傳媒訪問時表示，事發時在屋內感到震動，便即時收搭簡單衣物，與女兒跑出，因而逃過一劫，但相信有兩名親友身處樓中。他又指出，在該唐樓已居住半年，也感到樓宇結構有問題，不時會感到震動，但沒有想過會「冚樓」。


市民報警見女子呼救
不足 2秒唐樓塌下

政府發言人表示，下午 1時 43分，警方接獲一名乘搭巴士的市民報警，指紅磡馬頭維道 45號唐樓的一樓，有一名女子在呼救，不足 2秒後全幢唐樓即下塌。

救援人員於現場救出五名年齡介乎 30至 79歲的人士，包括 3名男子及 2名女子，其中 1名女子證實死亡，當局仍在調查肇事原因。

消防：
隔籬大廈搖搖欲墜

2010年01月29日 (04:20 pm)


紅磡馬頭圍道 45號一座唐樓，於下午 1時突然全座倒塌，消防發言人表示，已救出 3男 2女，其中 1名年約 40歲的女子，送院後證實死亡，目前仍然有 4人失蹤。

發言人表示，塌樓現場的隔籬大廈搖搖欲墜，已派出 100名消防人員參與救援工作。

馬頭圍道塌樓慘劇
女子無辜喪命

2010年01月29日 (03:56 pm)


紅磡馬頭圍道 45號一座唐樓，下午 1時許突然全幢倒塌，消防先後救出 3男 2女（年齡介乎 30歲至 79歲），當中 1名從瓦礫堆中被救出的女子（年約 40歲），經送往伊利沙伯醫院搶救後，終告不治。消防正繼續在現場搜索是否尚有其他人被困。

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紅磡塌樓一死五人失蹤 (16:35)
紅磡馬頭圍道下午一時許發生塌樓事件，消防共救出3男2女，其中一名女子死亡，仍有5人失蹤。
警方表示，下午1時43分接獲一名坐巴士途經現場的乘客報警，看到一樓有一名女子求救，立即派人到場，但到達現場之前該幢六層高的55年樓齡的舊樓即告倒塌。

現場救出3男2女，年齡介乎30至79歲，其中1人死亡。消息指出，死亡的女子年齡約40歲。

消防指出，由於塌樓現場旁邊的一棟樓宇也搖搖欲墜，因此救援十分困難。消防的特種搜救隊目前有大約一百人在現場搜救。

屋宇署表示，塌樓現場鄰近的馬頭圍道45G和H兩幢樓有結構危險，需要封閉。

發展局長林鄭月娥表示，已經要求屋宇署派人巡查馬頭圍道的舊樓，下周會在立法會討論強制驗樓。

林鄭月娥到馬頭圍道塌樓現場視察後表示，今次塌樓事件顯示舊樓安全問題，已經要求屋宇署立即展開調查，了解事件成因及安全結構是否有問題。

（即時新聞）

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林鄭月娥下周討論強制驗樓 (16:23)
發展局長林鄭月娥表示，已經要求屋宇署派人巡查馬頭圍道的舊樓，下周會在立法會討論強制驗樓。
林鄭月娥到馬頭圍道塌樓現場視察後表示，今次塌樓事件顯示舊樓安全問題，已經要求屋宇署立即展開調查，了解事件成因及安全結構是否有問題。

她表示，已要求屋宇署檢查馬頭圍道整條街舊樓，尤其要檢查50年樓齡以上的舊樓。她會在下周三在立法會討論強制驗樓。

（即時新聞）

塌樓事件增至五人失蹤

(17:51)
九龍區消防總長李洪森表示，目前估計仍有5人失蹤，包括一字樓2人、2字樓2人、3字樓1人。
消防用生命探測器在瓦礫的頂部位置搜尋，沒有發現任何生命象，因此可以開始較重型的發掘，但他表示，拯救的難度在於要先鞏固隔鄰不安全的另一大廈，估計需時大約兩個小時。


他說，會準備工具通宵發掘。(即時新聞)

倒塌樓宇傍晚再發現屍體



(19:23)
消防員傍晚7時在紅磡馬頭圍道塌樓現場再發現一具屍體，令死者人數增至2人，現時仍有4人失蹤。
在晚上大約7時05分，消防員停止發掘，其後在瓦礫中抬走一具用白布包裹的屍體，相信現時仍有4人失蹤。


警方表示，下午1時43分接獲一名坐巴士途經馬頭圍道45號的乘客報警，看到一樓有一名女子求救，立即派人到場，但到達現場之前該幢六層高的的唐樓即告倒塌。



現場救出3男2女，年齡介乎30至79歲，其中一名年約40歲的女子不治。連同傍晚7時發現的屍體，死亡人數已增至2人。


消防下午開始用生命探測器在瓦礫的頂部位置搜尋，同時派出曾參與四川汶川大地震的搜救隊搜救，但沒有發現任何生命象，因此其後已用較重型的機器發掘，預料會通宵進行。


屋宇署表示，塌樓現場鄰近的馬頭圍道45G和H兩幢樓有結構危險，需要封閉。


發展局長林鄭月娥表示，已經要求屋宇署派人巡查馬頭圍道的舊樓，下周會在立法會討論強制驗樓。


林鄭月娥到馬頭圍道塌樓現場視察後表示，今次塌樓事件顯示舊樓安全問題，已經要求屋宇署立即展開調查，了解事件成因及安全結構是否有問題。


倒塌的唐樓樓齡有55年。據現場的消息稱，上址的樓宇的樓下近日進行裝修。


立法會工程界議員何鍾泰表示，舊樓的水泥質素欠佳，亦可能是有人非法改裝，影響結構。




有線片段：
6點半片段
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警 方 交 代 塌 樓 經 過 片 段
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目 擊 者 稱 事 發 時 聽 到 巨 響
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市民提供片段：
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This is ironic...

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TVB News (11pm)

8iVaihN0iqg

JRAZv61Jw9c

Wow. Has something like this ever happened before in HK?

If it was the construction workers who caused this building to collapse, they should definitely be charged with criminal negligence and face stiff jail sentences.

It is very fortunate that this was a low rise building and not 20, 30 or 40+ storeys.

I saw this comment on youtube......

真係五十年不變！五十年前於空地起好一幢樓，五十年後塌回爛地一塊。

This accident is just outrageous... so sad.

指揮同袍逃命消防：「早10秒到就一起完蛋！」


【明報專訊】昨天的馬頭圍道猶如荷李活災難片場景，唐樓發出「」異響，灰粉灑下，裝修工和住客深知大難臨頭衝出逃命，首先到場的一隊消防員卻想衝進去救人，但大廈突然在他們面前崩潰塌下，指揮同袍逃命的消防隊目事後慨嘆：「早10秒到就一起完蛋了！」

鋪天蓋地的灰塵未散，但重型挖掘機未到，該隊消防即冒險衝上瓦礫堆徒手挖掘，觸目驚心的街坊說：「當時石屎、雜物，連冷氣機仍不斷掉下來！消防又逃開躲避，然後又衝上去！」隔鄰唐樓牆也被撕裂，房間、客廳清楚可見，被困住客不停揮手呼救，消防員見等不及雲梯增援，竟冒險直奔上破落的樓梯逐個將他們救下。未幾，擅長在攀山、坍塌、高空、密閉空間進行高難度搜救的消防特種搜救隊和坍塌搜救專隊紛紛趕到，執行他們於去年12月正式命名後最嚴峻的任務。


消防處長親自督師


消防處長盧振雄昨親自趕到督師，他說：「搜救非常困難，救人時，消防員頭上的瓦礫仍搖搖欲墜，消防已經出動各種儀器拯救。」重型吊機不斷將石屎瓦礫吊走，雖然生命探測器沒有反應，但100名消防員仍繼續通宵搜救，把一具具屍體被抬出。消防說，會一直挖掘，直至所有失蹤者被尋回為止。


事發前15分鐘

「裝修工喊樓 無人信」


【明報專訊】唐樓地舖在裝修期間突然倒塌，釀成3死2失蹤。事件關鍵的5名裝修工人事後不知所終，警方重案組已介入調查。在馬頭圍道45號J對面經營金舖的許先生目擊整個事發過程，「在塌樓前15分鐘，已有工人衝出大叫『樓啦，走呀』，但當時樓宇看上去沒問題，無人信係真。」


裝修工事後不知所終


許先生說﹕「直至塌樓前兩分鐘，開始有住客從大廈走出來，臉上身上都是灰，又狼狽又驚，大約有10人衝入我間舖。」當時二樓有一名女子大叫「救命」，驚惶失控呼救，一度企圖從樓上跳下，「但佢唔敢跳，終於連人帶樓一齊」。目擊者形容，現場傳出如牆壁裂開的「格」異響，隨即有石屎掉落，「是地舖開始塌，然後上面再塌，10秒內全幢樓塌下，揚起的灰塵差不多10分鐘才散去」。


消息稱，當時有消防車已到場處理「石屎從高處墮下」事件，沒想到會目擊塌樓，消防車亦需急急退開。另一名途人何先生亦說，當時擬到唐樓前的巴士站候車，「差10米就壓死」。現場旁邊有一間中銀分行，事發後職員慌忙逃生，有女職員目睹背後恐怖場面，嚇得哭了。


香港工程師學會結構分部主席劉志健指出，相信事發時有人令主力柱樑損，在舖內可能見到圍板和牆壁石屎有異樣，惟上層住客未知凶險。他指出，在柱樑框架結構下，地下塌下後會拉動上層，造成「骨牌效應倒塌」。他說﹕「若居民身上有灰，即代表其單住已出現塌石屎情，極為凶險。」


據悉，肇事唐樓每個單位建築面積約1000呎，但有人任意改動間格，將單位改成4個套房，每個有獨立廁所及廚房，重新挖牆及鋪設地板喉管。街坊稱，該唐樓八成套房租出，租金約2000至3000元，租客大多為新移民及南亞裔人士。

生死三步 母女撿命家翁亡

塌樓有預兆﹕門鎖也歪了

【明報專訊】「走出樓兩至三步，成幢樓已經落！」5層高唐樓在10秒間完全倒塌，有人僥倖逃出鬼門關，有人卻不幸被活埋，每一秒、每一步都帶來生死相異的結局。生還者回想意外經過，原來塌樓早有預兆，「如果早點有人通知，就不會死人！」眾人都希望政府查出真相，追究責任。


22歲的陳太與丈夫及1歲半女兒居於倒塌的馬頭圍道45號J三樓一間套房，丈夫的母親及41歲姓蔡繼父住在同層另一房間。陳太憶述，早於昨午12時許已發現慘劇端倪，「當時發現大門的鎖歪了，關不好」，她遂向負責收租的地產公司反映，對方表示晚上會派員檢查。


昨午見批盪剝落即逃生


至昨午1時許，陳太驚見屋內牆壁的批盪灰粉剝落，驚覺不妥，立即抱女兒逃生，「以為家翁已上班，沒有敲門叫他走」，結果蔡在事件中被活埋慘死。陳太沿樓梯向下走，當時其他住客亦爭相逃生，至二樓時有「鳳姐」探頭追問﹕「發生乜事呀？」陳太急步走，只匆匆拋下一句﹕「唔得閒講，樓喇！」


當陳太抵達地面，「走出樓兩至三步，後面突然好大聲，一回望，成幢樓已經塌落！我驚到腳到軟埋。」那名探頭的鳳姐相信已被活埋。陳太母女被相鄰影音店的職員拉走，幸保性命，她即時打電話質問地產公司如何負責，「那個女職員說中午已有工人講層樓有不妥，我罵她為何不早說，如果早點有人通知，就不會死人！」


陳太對家翁身亡非常自責，「他（家翁）當售貨員，平時應已上班，怎料會在家午睡……」她與丈夫、女兒及家姑徬徨無助。至傍晚10時許，特首曾蔭權到紅磡的聖匠堂社區中心探望災民，又指政府會盡力協助災民。


自責沒喚醒家翁累活埋


但陳太情緒激動，指當局未有妥善安排，「我們45號J的居民無家可歸，政府想安排我們去油麻地的社區中心，然後又說去石籬暫住，之後一點都不知，將我們當人球！」陳先生說﹕「特首幫唔到我！」他憤然與家人到親戚家暫住。其後立法會議員馮檢基與房署商議後，同意讓災民日內遷入長沙灣蘇屋暫住，以便進一步提供協助。


不少居民在慘劇中發揮互助精神，有婦人抱女帶孫逃生，有情深老夫婦互相扶持逃出鬼門關，其中獨居於相鄰唐樓五樓的湯婆婆，看到塌樓後牆身出現大洞及震盪，「當時好驚，即刻有人拍門，原來係住隔籬房後生仔」。青年帶湯婆婆逃生，發現廚房尚算穩固，一起在該處躲避。湯婆婆記得青年安慰她﹕「佢叫我唔使驚，話死都一齊死，我好感動。」其後消防員升起雲梯，青年立即揮手示意，還讓婆婆先逃生，兩人互相扶持下終一起逃出險境。

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Holy feck!

Heard that some retards took out a structural element... :bash:

Holy feck!

Heard that some retards took out a structural element... :bash:

sadly, i would imagine that's what happened caused the tragedy...

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Some footage of it collapsing

kZzddFGF-SQ

專線小巴義載 料籌30萬捐災民

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【明報專訊】土瓜灣發生塌樓意外後，陸續有團體伸出援手。昨日有行走紅磡、土瓜灣一帶的專線小巴發起一日義載，為受塌樓意外影響的災民籌款，預計可以籌得30萬元，所有善款會全數交由社署處理。


捷輝汽車有限公司旗下行走黃埔至尖沙嘴、黃埔至又一城的6、6A、6X、2及2A共5條小巴線發起義載。小巴站昨日早掛滿義載海報。公司負責人謝健威預計，籌款額會有30萬元，較平日每天平均10萬元收入為高，公司會在不扣除任何成本下，把善款悉數轉交社署。


謝健威表示，為方便結算及節省八達通成本，在義載期間暫停八達通服務，乘客多表示不介意。昨日不少市民知道是義載，把一張張紙幣投入錢箱。謝健威指出，除10元、50元鈔票外，甚至有有心乘客投入100元、500元鈔票，為災民出一分力。


社署發言人表示，歡迎社會各界及善長為災民提供支援或捐助。個別團體或善長如欲透過社署把善款交予災民，署方樂意提供協助，並會與有關團體商討及跟進分發善款的安排，以期盡快幫助到有需要的災民。

I am really glad that the firemen did not arrive 10 secs earlier..

There's cracks appearing on the adjacent buildings indicating that they may all collapse like dominos.

hSBG2OlmuIE

I suppose this is a wake up call for the various departments, BD, ASD, etc etc
to actually do somethin rather than wait... and the processing times in these departments are way too slow..
Main reason for this tragedy is money and lack of provision from the government.
Say you are the owner of a whole floor with 4 Units. The rent you earn will be much less than say 12 individual smaller suites. Hence all the shear walls were taken out. floors gutted and rewalled illegally.
so its money money money

I think the landlords bear the primary responsibility for maintaining their units. But the government departments need to work together to enforce building safety rules and embark on more drastic measures to even re-possess the land if the minimum safety requirements are not met for prolonged periods.

Tenants need more access to cheap legal advice to sue landlords who don't provide the basics like upkeep.

This is such a sad thing to happen and it may call into question building standards in hong kong. I hope the adjacent buildings don't go the same way!!!!!!

I suspect this has little to do with building standards, but just some stupid contractors knocked out a major support column and down went the rest.

URA commences Ma Tau Wai redevelopment project with special measures


The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Wednesday) announced the commencement of a redevelopment project involving two rows of 50-year-old-plus tenement buildings at a site in To Kwa Wan where a block collapsed on 29 January 2010, as well as adoption of special measures for this special project in view of the unique circumstances, the residents’ sub-standard living conditions and their psychological burden after the accident.

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung, and Managing Director of URA, Mr Quinn Law, outlined the development plan and the special measures at a media briefing this afternoon following the announcement by the Financial Secretary (FS) at the annual Budget Speech that approval has been given to URA to include the project in its annual business plan for the current financial year and its implementation under the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO). They emphasised that the special arrangements and measures are adopted due to its exceptional circumstances. These special arrangements do not apply to URA’s current projects and should not set a precedent for its future projects.

The implementation of the project was published in the Gazette right after the FS announcement.

Speaking at the media session, Mr Cheung said the Authority undertook the project after careful consideration of the building conditions, the residents’ living condition and the special circumstances following the recent building collapse tragedy.

“We are sympathetic with the residents who are unduly affected by the tragic building collapse incident and have been in close discussions with the Government with a view to having URA involved in helping the residents in the affected buildings and in the immediate vicinity,” said Mr Cheung.

“We are prepared to adopt special arrangements and measures, on an exceptional basis, to help these residents in advance of planning approval of the project and issuance of offers for acquisition of the property interests.” Mr Cheung emphasised that special measures are taken in view of the unique circumstances and residents’ psychological concern about the safety of their premises.

The URA’s special arrangements for this unique project are valid for one month from the date of freezing survey. Concerned owners and tenants have to make known their request to the URA within the one-month period. Details of the special arrangements are as follows:

Domestic Owners-occupiers – if there is no objection against the project, URA can make its general acquisition offer tentatively by end of May 2010. If an owner-occupier indicates to URA that he elects to leave before URA’s issuance of general acquisition offer, URA will be willing to acquire his property at an estimated market value with a 30% deposit. When the general offer is made to all owners after planning approval, an owner-occupier will be paid the difference between the compensation based on 7-year notional flat price and the purchase price which he has already received.


Domestic tenants – if a tenant elects to leave immediately, URA will provide cash compensation or rehousing if he is eligible. If the landlord so requests and URA so agrees, URA will pay the rent on behalf of the tenant, up to the natural expiration of the tenancy agreement or up to the date of his landlord’s acceptance of acquisition offer, whichever is earlier.


Non domestic owner-occupiers – if an owner-occupier elects to cease business and leave before receipt of URA’s general acquisition offer tentatively scheduled in May 2010, URA is willing to acquire his property at an estimated market value with a deposit of 30%. After the obtaining of planning approval, the then estimated market value will be re-assessed at the time of the general offer and the owner will be paid the difference between 135% of the re-assessed market value (if adjusted) and the purchase price he has already received.


Non-domestic tenants – if a tenant confirms to leave immediately, URA will pay a special business allowance to him, which is equivalent to 0.5 Ratable Value (RV) of his tenanted unit.
While the Expression of Interest to Purchase Arrangement (EIPA) will be offered to eligible domestic owner-occupiers who wish to come back upon completion of the new development, non-domestic tenants and non-domestic owner-occupiers on the ground floors will be offered an opportunity to lease the commercial spaces in the new development at prevailing market rents.

“We plan to provide smaller flats to the mass housing market. Over 400 residential units with an average flat size of less than 50 square metres will be built. We also do not rule out the possibility to develop the project ourselves this time,” said Mr Cheung.

Other special features of this project include re-creation of the existing retail street frontage along Ma Tau Wai Road and Hok Yuen Street by low-rise retail structure, provision of about 1,000 square metres for Government, Institution and Community (GIC) facilities use and around 500 square metres at grade open space/ amenity areas which would help improve streetscape and air ventilation.

“To enhance the awareness of owners on the importance of building management and regular maintenance, we consider providing a major resource centre in the new development,” he said.

Covering an area of about 3,377 square metres, the project area is bounded by Ma Tau Wai Road, Hok Yuen Street and Chun Tin Street. The buildings within the project area were built between 1955 and 1957, ranging between 4 to 6 storeys in height.

Some 540 households and 35 shops are likely to be affected by the redevelopment project, involving about 159 property interests.

The unfortunate building collapse incident has heightened the need for regular and proper building maintenance in Hong Kong and triggered redevelopment of this project which, if implemented, could help improve the living environment of residents concerned and generate planning gains, Mr Cheung added.

The acquisition/rehousing cost for the project is estimated at around $1,447 million. A deficit of some $700 million, exclusive of overhead expenditure, will be incurred.

About 130 URA staff members were deployed to conduct the freezing survey to ascertain the actual number of households and the occupancy status. “We will arrange a series of briefing sessions shortly to explain to the affected owners and tenants the special arrangements for this project,” Mr Cheung added.

An urban renewal social service team commissioned by the URA and staffed by professional social workers of The Salvation Army will provide counselling and practical assistance that the residents may need. The contact number of the social service team is 3188- 2104. Affected residents can also visit the URA’s Ma Tau Wai Neighbourhood Centre, Shop A, Ground Floor, 426-430 Ma Tau Wai Road, Kowloon in person or call the URA’s Hotline at 2588-2333 for enquiries.

The project will be implemented by way of a development project under section 26 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO). It will be submitted by the URA under section 24(3) of the URAO to the Secretary for Development for consideration.

In accordance with section 23(3) of the URAO, a description of the general nature and effects of the project and a plan delineating the project boundaries are available for public inspection for a period of two months from today during normal office hours at :-

the URA Headquarters at 10/F, Low Block, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong (Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.);


the URA’s Ma Tau Wai Neighbourhood Centre, Shop A, G/F, 426-430 Ma Tau Wai Road, Kowloon (Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.);


the Public Enquiry Service Centre of the Kowloon City District Office, Room 1707, 17/F, One Harbourfront, 18-22 Tak Fung Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon (Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.); and


the Public Enquiry Service Centre of the To Kwa Wan Sub-office, Kowloon City District Office, Shops 2 and 3, Ground Floor, Jubilant Place, 33 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon (Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
Such information is also available on the URA website at http://www.ura.org.hk.

Under section 24(1) of the URAO, any person who considers that he will be affected by the project and who wishes to object to the implementation of the development project may send a written statement of his objections to the URA at 10/F, Low Block, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong not later than 24 April 2010.

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Residents in Hung Hom fear building collapse similar to To Kwa Wan tragedy
16 March 2010
South China Morning Post

Residents of rundown blocks in Hung Hom fear they will suffer the same fate as the building that collapsed in nearby To Kwa Wan, leaving four dead.

They are worried that maintenance work has not been carried out despite the Buildings Department warning the owners of the flats.

Kowloon City district councillor Pius Yum Kwok-tung said that since the five-storey tenement in Ma Tau Wai Road was reduced to rubble on January 29, his phone had been ringing almost non-stop.

"We cannot afford to have another tragedy like this. But then it is shocking to learn that the Buildings Department has failed to look into the problem while it understands the full extent of it," Yum said.

He said many residents in Hung Hom reported structural safety problems to the department and in some cases maintenance orders had been issued, but few repair works had been done.

"Take a 52-year-old building in Gillies Avenue South as an example. A ground-floor premises was abandoned for more than 10 years. Peeling concrete and exposed steel reinforcing rods can be seen, though the Buildings Department issued the owner with an order to fix the problems in June 2008," Yum said.

The owner turned a blind eye. While others carried out maintenance recently, the owner of ground floor premises refused to fix his property. "The owner of a flat above it [the ground floor flat] moved out years ago as his floor tilted to one side and he fears the place will collapse," Yum said.

A building in Station Lane has the same problem. The Buildings Department told the owner of a ground-floor unit in June 2008 to fix problems caused by the removal of slabs and beams and the construction of a cockloft, or cubicle.

"But nothing has been mended. What is more, many flats in 50-year-old buildings have been subdivided and balconies enclosed."

Such alterations can add to the load of the building and affect safety. Similar unapproved changes had been done to the building that collapsed in Ma Tau Wai Road.

Yum said cracks and peeling concrete could be seen on the staircase of a 45-year-old building in Wuhu Street, and residents had complained many times. "I also wrote to the department recently but they simply replied they knew of the problem and would follow up," he said.

There are 3,900 buildings in Hong Kong that are more than 50 years old.

The Buildings Department said officials were following up the cases.

"For the case in Gillies Avenue, the department will prosecute the owner and we are also preparing to issue maintenance orders to owners in Wuhu Street," a department spokesman said, adding that all the buildings involved were structurally safe.

馬頭圍重建戶盼樓換樓
2010年04月17日

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【本報訊】市建局宣布馬頭圍道/春田街重建項目後，受影響的自住及出租業主組成「馬頭圍道塌樓重建關注組」，其中二十伙業主昨日到市區重建局辦事處外請願，要求以「樓換樓、舖換舖」方式賠償。有業主強調其物業的樓宇結構未有受塌樓影響，卻遭市建局強行收樓重建，加上沙中線鐵路等利好消息導致區內樓價上升，擔心賠償不足以在原區置業。
出租業主轟賠償較自住低

已屆六十七歲的馬頭圍道四十三G號業主張先生表示，與太太分別擔任停車場管理員及校工，收入微薄，五年前以大約七十五萬元購入單位，再分成四間房出租，每間房月租二千五百元，希望退休後可依靠每月合共一萬元的租金作「退休金」及「醫療金」，「供樓供得好辛苦」亦無抱怨，不過，重建項目出籠後即令其好夢成空，直言「唔知將來點算」。

另一業主馮先生批評市建局提供出租業主的賠償方案，較自住業主為低不合理，要求當局交代原因。他們向市建局代表遞交請願信後和平散去。

市建局發言人表示，無論自住或出租物業，該局都會根據由七名獨立測量師、以同區七年樓價方式計算出來的估價賠償，其中自住業主可額外獲得自置居所津貼，不存在剋扣。

發言人又說，重建項目的法定諮詢期將於下周六結束，收集所得的居民意見及建議在分析後，會在下月底前交發展局審批，以期盡快落實賠償方案。

LCQ2: Building safety and urban redevelopment plans
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Government Press Release

Following is a question by Dr Hon Priscilla Leung Mei-fun and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (April 21):

Question:

Regarding the accident which happened on January 29 this year in Ma Tau Wai Road in which an entire old building which was over 50 years old collapsed and the plan to redevelop old districts, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it is the current practice of the Buildings Department to inspect the exterior conditions of buildings by "naked eyes" only, and whether staff of the Department will enter the premises for a detailed inspection; after the aforesaid tragic collapse of the building, whether the authorities have assessed if the current inspection practice will give rise to an "oversight" situation;

(b) apart from the redevelopment projects which had not been completed by the then Land Development Corporation, of the number of redevelopment projects in old districts which have been implemented by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) since its establishment in 2001, together with a list of the respective amounts of profit made and loss incurred by these redevelopment projects; and

(c) after the tragic collapse of the building in Ma Tau Wai Road, whether the authorities have assessed if its previous injection of $10 billion into URA is sufficient to support the speeding up of urban redevelopment plans; if they have, whether the authorities have planned to inject additional capital into URA or change URA's mode of operation from self-financing to receiving subsidy from the Government by annual allocation, so as to increase the pace of redevelopment?

Reply:

President,

My reply to the three-part question is as follows:

(a) Visual inspection is basically the first step adopted by the professional staff of the Buildings Department (BD) when inspecting buildings to ascertain their structural safety, and the inspection mainly covers the common areas and external walls of buildings. If the assessment result of the visual inspection reveals that there is such a need, the professional staff of BD will carry out further inspections according to circumstances and will enter individual premises to conduct detailed inspections and examination. The reasons for adopting this approach are as follows:

(i) For the interior of individual premises, if the conditions of the structural elements have deteriorated due to certain reasons or there are unauthorised structural alterations which lead to overall structural stability problems, evident defects will usually also appear in the adjoining premises or the premises above or below, as well as in the common areas or even on the external walls of the building. The BD staff are experienced professionals who can competently identify evident defects in the common areas and on the external walls, including defects extending from individual premises to the exteriors when carrying out visual inspections and will take corresponding action which includes entering individual premises to carry out further inspections or issuing investigation orders to the owners concerned; and

(ii) Since external walls are constantly exposed to erosion by wind and rain and it is more difficult to repair and maintain them, their rate of deterioration is faster than that of the interior of a building. Generally speaking, owners are also more concerned about the repair and maintenance of their own premises the conditions of which are therefore usually much better than those of the common areas and the external walls of the building.

We consider that the approach of building inspection to ascertain structural safety adopted by BD as set out above has been effective and appropriate. The BD will also review its operation from time to time to continue enhancing the various measures it has adopted to improve building safety.

(b) Since its establishment in 2001, apart from taking over the implementation of 10 redevelopment projects commenced by the former Land Development Corporation (LDC), the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has directly, or through collaboration with the Hong Kong Housing Society, commenced another 38 redevelopment projects, of which 25 were announced by the former LDC in 1998 but yet to be commenced. In accordance with the Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) promulgated in 2001, the URA should give priority to the implementation of these 25 projects.

The overall financial position of the URA is published in the URA's Annual Report and Audited Accounts. So far, the URA has not disclosed the profit/loss position of its individual redevelopment projects. In order to enhance the transparency of the URA's work, we plan to publish the surpluses/deficits of completed projects of the URA when submitting its annual work progress to the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council in June this year.

(c) The estimated acquisition/rehousing cost for the URA's Ma Tau Wai redevelopment project is estimated at around $1,447 million. It is expected that a deficit of some $700 million will be incurred. Nonetheless, the URA's financial position remains healthy. According to information provided by the URA, as at March 31, 2010, its unaudited net asset value exceeds the $10 billion injected by the Government.

In July 2008, the Government launched a two-year review on the URS. The review is now at its third stage, namely, the "Consensus Building" stage, which is expected to be completed in mid-2010. We will report findings to the Panel on Development then. The overall financing arrangements for the URA, including the objective of a self-financing urban renewal programme in the long run, is also covered in the review.

Collapsed-building contractor faces charges
21 January 2011
South China Morning Post

The Buildings Department will prosecute the renovation contractor involved in the fatal collapse of a tenement in To Kwa Wan last year.

A summons was served on the contractor, whose workers were working in the ground-floor shop of Block J at 45 Ma Tau Wai Road seconds before the block collapsed, killing four people and leaving a pile of rubble.

The charge was laid against the contractor under a section of the Buildings Ordinance, which covers work that causes injury or damage to property. The maximum penalty is HK$1 million and three years' imprisonment.

A Buildings Department spokeswoman said the Department of Justice decided to prosecute after studying forensic results and witness statements. She declined to say whether the contractor was a company or individuals.

The hearing will be at Kowloon City Court on February 16.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the incident, looking at the roles of both the building owner and the contractor. No one has been arrested.

Pius Yum Kwok-tung, a Kowloon City district councillor who has been in contact with the family of one of the victims, said there was concern about whether the contractor would be the only one held responsible.

"The full investigation report has remained unavailable to the public," he said. "The government should tell us whether anyone else other than the property owner will face prosecution, as this will also affect the family's civil claims."

The building owner, a woman named Chak Oi-luen, has neither been seen in public nor heard from since the collapse, except for a magazine report in which a woman who claimed to be Chak said she wanted to apologise to the victims.

Earlier, the government said the Coroner's Court would conduct a hearing after all prosecutions were brought.

Investigators found that renovation work had damaged a structurally important column, and two others.

「幢樓就冧喇」屋署懶懶閒
2011年08月09日(二)
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死因庭昨就土瓜灣馬頭圍道一幢舊樓去年一月底倒塌，導致四死兩傷召開聆訊。大廈維修工程承辦商稱，早於事發前兩個多月已發現大廈主力柱斷裂鋼筋彎曲，石屎大幅剝落，顯示大廈失去支撐力正開始下沉。唐樓大業主供稱因此曾一百五十次致電屋宇署求助，但要驚動到屋宇署署長才有人到場視察，但之後又沒有採取任何措施，還說大廈沒有危險。工程承辦商在聆訊中亦承認，他並沒有認可的專業資格，而大業主根本亦從沒有探究他是否持牌人士。

馬頭圍道四十五號J為一幢戰前唐樓，約有五十五年樓齡，全幢唐樓於去年一月二十九日近下午一時突然倒塌，當時身處唐樓內的四名男女被埋死亡，四人分別為女子盧建華（四十六歲）、女子李群珍（三十六歲）、男子蔡道強（四十歲）及男子童慶濤（二十歲）。

承辦商指工程是救樓

事發時大廈一個地舖正進行維修工程，被指為塌樓元兇的承辦商朱偉榮昨出庭作供，辯稱該次工程目的實為「救樓」，原打算清拆地舖裝修後架起工字鐵鞏固大廈，但未完成已出事。他又指大廈有嚴重結構問題，他在兩個多月前率先發現，之後更發現有主力柱石屎剝落至只剩兩成。

他指自○五年起承接該唐樓的維修工程，○九年十月底他進行沙井工程時，赫然發現唐樓其中一條主力柱不但出現石屎剝落斷裂，內裏鋼筋更已被壓成V字形，意識到唐樓正失去支撐力逐漸下沉，遂向大業主翟愛聯的代理人反映。

但大業主方面一直未有行動，他便嚇她：「幢樓就冧喇」，翟才向屋宇署求助。同年十一月中他陪同屋宇署人員尹志威視察過肇事唐樓地舖及後巷等，但當他詢問是否需要加固甚至列為危樓疏散居民，對方卻沒有回應。

打150次電話始視察

大業主翟愛聯供稱，一直將肇事唐樓的事宜交會計師樓管理，但當知道大廈結構有問題，便不斷致電屋宇署求助，「我打咗成一百五十次電話呀……同佢哋講幢樓一冧落嚟死好多人呀，到時唔淨係香港新聞呀，係國際新聞呀」，怎料對方愛理不理，她遂直接向屋宇署署長投訴，屋署才派尹到來視察。事後她致電詢問尹唐樓是否有危險，尹回應說無，她本着：「佢話無危險我咪開工拆僭建物囉」。翟不斷指屋宇署沒理會她的求助，但她承認從未報警疏散居民，並解釋是因為：「我畀面政府，所以盡量搵屋宇署」。

另一名證人地產代理兼二房東車南音作供時表示，她在九四至九五年開始分數年包租肇事唐樓二樓至五樓分層，原本大廈二至四樓是一梯一伙設計，她後來找裝修師傅將其中兩層每層間作四間劏房出租。聆訊未完今續。案件編號：CCDI 102-5/10

馬頭圍道45號大廈業權及倒塌時序表

90年代初─喜事佳有限公司購入大廈業權。

94至05年─地產代理車南音分數年包租2至5樓全層，再以劏房形式分租。

03年─翟愛聯成為喜事佳大股東。

05年─裝修承辦商朱偉榮開始承包大廈的維修工程，同年大廈曾進行全面維修。

09年10月尾─朱偉榮發現大廈主力柱斷裂，露出彎曲鋼筋，認為大廈結構有問題。

09年11月中─屋宇署職員尹志威到大廈視察。

09年12月底─地舖租客搬出。

2010年1月下旬─朱偉榮開始拆卸地舖裝修準備進行鞏固工程。

2010年1月29日─大廈倒塌奪去四條人命。

Danger signs `ignored' at death flats
The Standard
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The managers of a Ma Tau Wai tenement that collapsed were warned as early as six months before that the building was structurally unsafe, but no repairs were done until it was essentially too late, a coroner's inquest heard yesterday.

Testifying on the second day of the inquest into the deaths of four tenants, maintenance contractor Chu Wai-wing said he knew as early as mid-2009 the five-story building at Block J, 45 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom, was in danger of crumbling.

Chu told coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu he relayed his fears to an accountancy firm that managed the building on behalf of landlady Chak Oi-luen and recommended urgent repairs.

"I repeatedly told [the staff] that the building was sinking slowly into the ground. It was in a dangerous condition and could collapse at any time," Chu said.

But repair work, including the removal of illegal canopies and signboards, did not start until three days before the building collapsed on January 29, 2010, the inquest heard.

Autopsy reports showed the four victims sustained abrasions and bruises all over their bodies.

Other tenants told Chan how they escaped death after being alerted by signs of imminent danger on the fateful day. Chan Ho-yin, 43, recalled that after he discovered the ceiling of his apartment on the fourth floor had tilted, he went downstairs to find out what happened.

Stunned by spilling concrete on the ground floor, he immediately returned to his unit and yelled at his girlfriend to flee the residential block, which collapsed about two minutes after they rushed out.

Pang Kung-nok, 26, said he and his fifth- floor neighbor, Tong Tor-choi, 63, were rescued from the rubble an hour later.

Other witnesses, including Buildings Department officials, will testify at the inquest, which continues today.

Expert tells of death flats failure
The Standard
Thursday, August 11, 2011

A government building surveyor, who inspected a Hung Hom tenement two months before it collapsed killing four people, admitted he underestimated the "potential dangers."

Wan Chi-wai said he gave the landlady four months to carry out reinforcement work.

Wan was speaking on the third day of the inquest into the collapse of Block J, 45 Ma Tau Wai Road, on January 29, last year.

He told yesterday how he had inspected the building on November 18, 2009, two days after receiving a complaint from landlady Chak Oi-luen about potential structural risks.

The 17-year surveying veteran said he checked the ground-floor shop, external walls and ladders where he found peeled-off concrete layers and corroded steel beams in structural columns.

While some steel bars were bent by "external force that would pose potential danger to the structure" and reduce its ability to sustain weight, there was no immediate danger.

"When you carry out an inspection, many signs can show whether a building is about to collapse. Numerous signs enabled me to determine what to do next," Wan told Coroner Michael Chan Pik- kiu. But instead of issuing a closure order banning tenants from their apartments for a period of time for safety concerns, Wan instructed Chak to hire contractors to carry out long-overdue maintenance work, under the supervision of a registered structural engineer.

However, there was no remedial work, even after the issuance of an advisory letter following the inspection, and an order in mid-January - about two weeks before the collapse - demanding the owner remove an illegal structure and have the building reinforced.

Chak earlier told the inquest she telephoned the department up to 150 times for help. Wan disputed this, testifying he only talked to the landlady three times over the phone about her complaints.

Candy Wong Yuen-man, another government surveyor, who succeeded Wan after he left at the end of 2009, said she did a quick 10-minute inspection at the site two weeks before the tragedy - also thinking there was no imminent danger.

Wong dismissed accusations by residents that they were not informed about the potential risk, saying she posted the building order at the only entrance of the tenement.

The inquest continues today, with more Buildings Department officials and independent experts due to testify.

Contractor blamed on flats tragedy
The Standard
Friday, August 12, 2011

A senior structural engineer told a coroner's court that an unlicensed contractor should be held responsible for the collapse of a building that killed four people.

Testifying on the fourth day of the inquest into the tragedy at of Block J, 45 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom, Buildings Department engineer Chung Kam-yin said he reached this conclusion after inspecting the rubble and studying the testimony of 75-year-old contractor Chu Wai-wing.

Chung said the contractor and his workers had inappropriately used an electric saw to remove an illegal structure.

This was a H-shaped iron bar, attached to one of the structural columns inside a ground- floor shop. The method to remove the iron bar destabilized the "seriously corroded" column and redirected the force to two neighboring structural columns, he said.

"It triggered a chain reaction and caused the two columns supporting the block to collapse one after the other. It eventually brought down the entire block," Chung said.

The veteran structural engineer said although the design of the five-story block, constructed in the early 1950s, was unsatisfactory, the extra weight exerted by the subdivided flats above or illegal structures, including canopies and signboards, alone would not have caused the entire block to crumble.

He concluded that Chu was the person to blame for the collapse on January 29 last year, saying he should have supported the columns before doing reinforcement work.

The job of removing the H-shaped iron bar was completed shortly before the building gave way, Chu earlier testified, but insisted that he and his workers did not even "touch" the deformed structural columns on that fateful day.

Coroner Michael Chan Pik-qiu said he will analyze the testimonies carefully while accepting the expert witness' interest in defending the government.

The hearing continues today with an independent structural engineer due to testify.

Manslaughter verdict urged in flats collapse
The Standard
Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The families of the four killed in a Ma Tau Wai tenement building collapse in January last year have urged the coroner's court to return a verdict of "unlawful killing" or "manslaughter."

After a week of hearings and testimony from 30 witnesses, Coroner Michael Chan Pik-qiu will likely announce his verdict today.

In their final submissions yesterday, relatives of the dead condemned Buildings Department surveyors, a landlady and a principal tenant for negligence and wanted them held responsible.

Li Zhenhua, 53, who lost her 20-year-old son Hung Hing-to, broke into tears as she started reading her submission. Her daughter completed the reading.

"Why did my son lose his life at home?" Li asked. "[The surveyors] said they found no immediate danger but they were proven wrong. Their inspection was even worse than that of the unlicensed contractor."

She also condemned the landlady and principal tenant - who had subdivided flats to earn more rent- for being greedy and not paying heed to tenants' safety. Lee Chui-sun, widow of Choy Toa-keung, 40, blamed landlady Chak Oi-luen for failing to evacuate tenants even after being told the 55-year-old Hung Hom tenement was unsafe - two months before it collapsed.

"[Chak] knew the building was dilapidated but did not do anything about it," Lee said.

But lawyers for the Buildings Department director and Chak argued the deaths were "accidental," saying the coroner's court need only decide the cause of death and not legal responsibility.

Earlier, an expert witness disagreed with a department structural engineer who suggested that a worker who cleared illegal H-shaped iron bars hours before the collapse was to blame.

Polytechnic University civil and structural engineering professor Eddie Lam Siu-shu said the structural column collapsed not due to maintenance work but lack of repair and the additional weight of subdivided flats on upper floors.

"It's just like a four-legged table," Lam said. "It topples when one leg breaks."

Coroner blast for death flats owner
The Standard
Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A coroner has described the landlady of an old tenement in Ma Tau Wai, which collapsed and crushed four people to death in January 2010, as "dishonest and unreliable."

However, the coroner, Michael Chan Pik-qiu, ruled the deaths to be accidental.

Chan slammed Chak Oi-luen, landlady of the 55-year-old building, and Buildings Department officials for neglect of duties though he agreed there was no evidence to suggest they should be held criminally responsible.

He said Chak had unhesitatingly "lied in court" to protect her interests.

"She claimed she kept calling [a Buildings Department surveyor] a dozen times a day before the collapse but in fact he had already left his position in late November [in 2009]," Chan said.

He said Chak, 53, knew of the potential danger of the building at 45J Ma Tau Wai Road months before it came down, but did not try her best to have it fixed.

"Whenever she faced any obstacle, she just stood still and gave up," he said.

But Chan ruled Chak could not be held responsible for the deaths, considering her unprofessional knowledge of building safety and her efforts to urge for a closure order of the block.

She also paid HK$120,000 to a contractor to carry out work in order to comply with a government repair order.

Unlicensed contractor Chu Wai- wing, 75, is the only person in the incident who was charged with violating the Building Ordinance. The coroner dismissed allegations that Chu, who led workers to remove illegal structures on the block on the day of the tragedy, had caused the building to topple.

Evidence clearly showed the building was in such a poor condition that it could have come down anytime, Chan said. "Any minor construction work done by the contractor could have triggered the fall."

The coroner accused a Buildings Department surveyor of making a sloppy assessment on the safety of the tenement two months before the collapse. Terry Wan Chi-wai treated the inspection as "a mere matter of routine" and issued an advisory letter to the owner without careful consideration, Chan ruled.

Accepting testimonies given by three structural engineers that the building was on the verge of collapse when it was inspected by the surveyor, he said Wan's professional assessment that it was not in imminent danger was proven wrong.

"The potentially dangerous building was akin to an already overloaded camel that will fall with the addition of a single piece of straw," Chan said.

The Coroner's Court recommended that the government should intensify efforts to ensure the safety of tenements.

Chan suggested that emergency cases that need site inspections within 10 days should also be attended by a professional structural engineer and not only by a surveyor.

In addition, an administrative procedure of sending out an advisory letter after inspection should be skipped as owners usually ignore it, he said. Instead, a legally binding repair order should be issued to improve efficiency and inspectors be deployed to the site after two weeks to check if the work has started on time.

Coroner's officer Bruce Tse Chee-ho said the purpose of the inquest has been achieved while Chak's barrister, Shahmim Khattak, said the judgment "reflected everyone's interest."

Lee Chui-sun, widow of Choy Toa- keung, 40, was "heartbroken" by the verdict and said the landlady should bear responsibility for her husband's death.

Leung Kai-tai, who lost his girlfriend Lo Kin-wa, 46, will study the verdict before deciding whether to help her family claim compensation through civil suits.

The Buildings Department said it respected the verdict and will seriously consider the recommendations.

A spokesman also said it is the owners' basic responsibility, which they cannot shirk, to maintain the safety of their properties.

Builder faces three years for deadly collapse
The Standard
Thursday, February 21, 2013

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The elderly owner of a renovation company faces up to three years in jail after being found guilty of carrying out building work thought to have caused the deadly collapse of an old tenement in To Kwa Wan.

Four people died when the five-story building at Block J, 45 Ma Tau Wai Road collapsed three years ago.

Kowloon City magistrate Abu Baker bin Wahab said Chu Wai-wing, 75, carried out work on a pillar and platform in a shop on the ground floor.

He did this without first shoring up the building with steel bars and ensuring its safety.

Chu, who is unemployed and receives Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of carrying out building work in a manner that caused injury to persons and damage to property.

But the magistrate ruled yesterday that Chu, the sole proprietor of Wai Wing Construction Decoration, should have long noticed faults such as rotting columns and concrete peeling off ceilings on the then 55-year-old block, since he had been hired to do the repairs and carry out maintenance on the building since 2005.

The removal of a main column of a shop on the ground floor, without using appropriate tools and equipment to make sure the building was structurally safe, is believed to be the major cause of the collapse, the magistrate said.

The building was already in a "very, very dilapidated state" before Chu started work on the day of the collapse, the magistrate said. Chu did not even bother to requisition the services of qualified building contractors and surveyors to inspect the building.

Instead, Chu "of his own accord" thought of buying I-shaped steel bars to support the building.

He made this decision when he was again called to tear down an illegal structure on that fateful January day.

Despite the steel bars never being delivered, Chu went ahead with the repair work.

He proceeded with the work even when the block was collapsing, the magistrate said.

The magistrate said he will take into consideration probation and community service reports before adjourning sentencing to March 6.

The trial lasted for 28 days, with 22 witnesses, including three buildings officers, six former tenants and a building expert, called to testify.

The maximum penalty for such improper practice and causing structural building damage is up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$1 million.

Speaking outside court, Chu said he had no clue that the relatives of those died had filed claims against him.

On behalf of the relatives of the victims, Yam Kwok-tung, a member of Kowloon City District Council, expressed regret over the ruling as the Buildings Department escaped responsibility for the incident.

Leniency for tragedy scapegoat
The Standard
Thursday, March 07, 2013

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An elderly man living on the dole claims he has become the scapegoat for the collapse of a Hung Hom tenement building that left four people dead.

That came yesterday as Chu Wai-wing, 77, who used to have his own building renovation operation, was fined HK$10,000 for carrying out work likely to cause injury to people or damage to property.

Kowloon City court magistrate Abu Bakar bin Wahab said he was being very lenient as Chu and his wife subsist on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance of around HK$6,000 a month and because Chu had a clear record.

But Chu's view was that he was being made the scapegoat for the deadly collapse in January 2010 of the five-story building at 45 Ma Tau Wai Road that also injured two people.

The court earlier heard that he had carried out maintenance work on the building since 2005 and was called in again at the start of 2010 as the owner wanted unauthorized structures removed.

Chu said he regretted accepting the job as he had told the owner three times that the building was in a dire condition and that a check by experts was needed.

But independent engineer Wong Chak-yan, a former president of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, pointed out that two government surveyors had been blamed by the coroner in a separate hearing, saying they had failed to perform their duties diligently.

However, Wong added, the two surveyors had acted according to the system and told the owner to hire professionals to check the building and carry
out repairs.

Chu had chiseled away at a column and flooring, which prosecutors claimed posed the risk of injury to people or damage to the property.

Still, the magistrate also said that while Chu, owner of Wai Wing Construction Decoration Co, had been at work two days before the building's collapse there was no evidence to show that his work caused the disaster.

The maximum penalty for the charge Chu faced is three years in prison and a fine of HK$1 million.

Chu described his punishment as unfair since he was the only one taken before a court.

"The Buildings Department should take the major responsibility," he said. "Its surveyors inspected the building and said it was safe even though the columns had cracks."

He added: "I will have to save part of the dole payment to pay the fine."

Chu said he had been unemployed since the tragedy but will not appeal against the sentence.

The Department of Justice is now studying the court's verdict to see if any further action needs to be taken.

Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu found in August 2011 that the four deaths were accidental. He was unable to find the deaths unlawful and said no one should be held criminally responsible.

The coroner also agreed with expert witnesses that Chu had played only a minor role, though he described his work as the last straw.