The Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) recently conducted an inter-departmental joint operation to demolish two dilapidated buildings posing danger to the public located in Beco da Ostra (蠔里), near the Ruins of St. Paul’s, ensuring public safety and improving the local community environment, according to a DSSCU statement yesterday.
In addition to continuously monitoring and promoting building maintenance, the bureau will gradually roll out a territory-wide building survey and inspection initiative starting in the fourth quarter of this year, aiming to better understand current building conditions and build a comprehensive database to improve old-district management. Where necessary, demolition work will be carried out to advance the governance and urban renewal of the city’s old quarters, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that the initial phase will target the neighbourhood around Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo (關前後街) as a pilot area.
The statement noted that the two demolished structures were two-story brick-and-timber dilapidated buildings. The first case, situated at the junction of Beco da Ostra and Rua da Tercena (果欄街), exhibited multiple cracks on its façade and plant growth on the roof. The second building had a collapsed roof and was also overgrown with vegetation.
Following an inspection by the DSSCU building inspection committee, both structures were confirmed to be in a dangerous state with a risk of collapse, prompting interdepartmental action to eliminate threats to public safety, the statement said.
The statement underscored that under the local Urban Construction Legal Regime, property owners have a legal obligation and responsibility to maintain and repair their buildings, adding that the bureau will continue to step up building monitoring and inspections, requiring owners to address defects. If a building poses an immediate danger of collapse and the owner fails to handle it promptly, the government will execute the demolition in the public interest, with the costs borne by the property owner.
These undated handout photos provided by the Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) yesterday shows one of the dilapidated buildings on Beco da Ostra (蠔里) being prepared by DSSCU officials for demolition.
