The Buildings Department today said it has issued an investigation order to the owner of a warehouse building in Kwai Chung where rendering had fallen off an external wall. 

The order requires the owner to appoint an authorised person to conduct an investigation of the external wall, including an analysis on the cause of the fallen rendering, and to submit a report on the probe and proposed repair works.

Upon receiving a police notification on the morning of April 2 regarding rendering that had fallen from a warehouse building at 35 Wing Kei Road, department officers were deployed for a site inspection.

Officers at the scene found that part of the finishes and rendering had fallen off the external wall at the ninth floor of the building facing Wing Hau Street. No obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted.

The building is 25 years old and is 16 storeys high. According to the approved plans, the sixth to the 11th floor of the building is used for cold storage.

The department immediately contacted the building's property management company to take remedial action.

Apart from arranging installation of protective measures on the external wall of the building, the property management company also arranged for a registered contractor to begin putting up scaffolding and a protective screen on the external wall yesterday, to further ensure pedestrian safety.

The department stressed that it has been adopting a risk-based approach to deal with dilapidated buildings systematically including requiring private buildings aged 30 or above to conduct mandatory inspections, and issuing repair orders on defective buildings through proactive large-scale operations and arising from public reports.

It reminded owners to assume responsibility for the safety as well as repair and maintenance of their properties, while the Government will offer assistance and support to responsible owners and take enforcement action to tackle dilapidated buildings.