Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam Vai Man yesterday paid inspection visits to various dilapidated buildings in the peninsula’s northern district, urging all respective public entities to thoroughly assess the structural safety of all dilapidated buildings in the district, in order to carry out the necessary repairs to eliminate safety hazards.
A statement released by Tam’s office yesterday underlined the government’s ongoing commitment to advancing the city’s urban renewal in three major aspects: building repair or renovation, old neighbourhood revitalisation, and the redevelopment of whole areas or individual buildings.
According to the statement, Tam led a team yesterday to conduct an on-site inspection of the condition of various dilapidated buildings in the northern district. The team consisted of officials from the Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU), the Public Works Bureau (DSOP), the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), the Transport Bureau (DSAT), and the Housing Bureau (IH), and representatives from local power utility CEM.
Yesterday’s on-site inspection covered the seven building clusters of Iao Hon Estate, as well as San Mei On Building (新美安大廈), Yau Seng Building (祐昇大廈), Kam Heng Building (錦興大廈), and Man Lei Building (萬利樓).
The dilapidated Iao Hon Estate, which was built in the 1970s, comprises seven clusters of low-rise buildings – Hong Tai Building (康泰樓), Kat Cheong Building (吉祥樓), Son Lei Building (順利樓), Heng Long Building (興隆樓), Mau Tan Building (牡丹樓), Man Sau Building (萬壽樓), and Seng Yee Building (勝意樓).
These seven clusters currently comprise 46 buildings consisting of 2,556 residential and commercial units, after four buildings were demolished in 2009.
San Mei On Building, Kam Heng Building, and Man Lei Building are all run-down low-rise building clusters located near Iao Hon Estate.
Similarly blighted, the low-rise Yau Seng building cluster stands near Mong-Ha Sports Centre.
According to the statement, members of Tam’s team inspected the common areas of these buildings, including external walls, concrete floors, and staircases. The inspection assessed the structural safety of the buildings, electricity supply facilities, tap water supply facilities, and traffic conditions on surrounding roads.
Tam instructed all respective public entities to carry out thorough assessments of the structural safety of all dilapidated buildings in the northern district. The public entities should also coordinate with power utility CEM and Macao Water to step up inspections of power and water supply facilities, in order to carry out the necessary repairs to these facilities to eliminate safety hazards, according to the statement.
Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam Vai Man (centre) gives instructions to officials under his portfolio during his inspection visit to Yau Seng Building, located near Mong-Ha Sports Centre, yesterday. – Photo: Tam’s office
