The Government will introduce the Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2007 ("the Amendment Bill") into the Legislative Council on December 5 to put in place a minor works control system to facilitate members of the public to carry out minor works through simplified statutory procedures, with an aim to improving building safety in Hong Kong.  The Amendment Bill will be gazetted on November 23 (Friday).

     A spokesman for the Development Bureau said, "Under the new proposal, minor works will be classified into three classes according to their nature, scale and complexity and risk to safety,  

* Class I includes those relatively more complicated minor works, e.g. installation of internal staircases connecting two floors, repair of columns or load bearing walls and removal of large-scale illegal roof-top structures.

* Class II comprises those of a comparatively lower complexity and risk to safety, e.g. repair of non-load bearing external walls, installation or repair of external rendering or external wall tiles and erection of medium-size projecting signboards.

* Class III mainly includes common household minor works, e.g. erection of supporting frames for air-conditioners, drying racks and window canopies."

     After the implementation of the new system, the degree of control over the three classes of minor works will be different.  Construction of minor building works will no longer require the prior approval of building plans from the Building Authority.  Owners can appoint technical personnel of different qualifications in accordance with the complexity of the works.  

* Class I minor works should be designed and supervised by Authorized Persons (i.e. architects, engineers and surveyors registered in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance) and registered professionals, and carried out by registered contractors.

* Class II minor works only require the appointment of registered Class II minor works contractors.

* Class III minor works only require the appointment of registered Class III minor works contractors (including individual practitioners registered as minor works contractors.

     The spokesman said, "The efficiency and flexibility of the new control system will be greatly enhanced, thus facilitating compliance by the public and relevant parties."

     A register of "registered minor works contractors" will be established under the new system.  Existing practitioners with adequate qualifications and experience can register as minor works contractors.  Short top-up training courses will be provided to upgrade their standards and enhance their knowledge of the new legislation.

     The spokesman added that inspections will be conducted to ascertain compliance with the statutory requirements and ensure the quality and standard of the minor works conducted.  Disciplinary and prosecution actions may be taken against those concerned for non-compliance.  

     "As the new system will be a new concept to the general public, we will conduct an extensive public education campaign to facilitate public understanding of the new legislation and enable the public to comply with and make beneficial use of the system.

     "We will publish tailor-made guidelines for building owners, minor works practitioners, building managers and business operators to cater for their specific needs.  We will put emphasis on the modus operandi of the new system in our publicity materials.  Furthermore, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Housing Society, we will provide advisory services for building owners, contractors and workers to facilitate their compliance with the legislation," the spokesman said.

     Under the extant Buildings Ordinance, all building works (except exempted works), despite their nature, scale, complexity and risk to safety, are regulated by the same stringent building control system.  This control regime is too demanding and complicated for relatively simple and small-scale minor building works, resulting in many such works being carried out without proper authorization.

     "The new system on the one hand simplifies the approval procedures for minor works to cater for the need of the modern society, and improves the standards of contractors and safety of works on the other.  It will bring benefits to all stakeholders," the spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:55

NNNN

News Archives | Yesterday's News