A task force has been set up to speed up rectification works for debonded wall tiles in common areas of public rental housing estates.

The Building Repairs Task Force is chaired by Jennifer Yiu who leads a team of over 30 professional and technical staff directly accountable to the Director of Housing.

"Our task is to simplify the administrative procedures for commencing rectification works for tile-debonding covering an affected area of 70,000 square metres in 68 public rental housing estates and courts," she said.

Mrs Yiu added the affected areas represent less than 1% of the total area of walls with tiles in public rental housing estates and courts.

"We will press ahead immediately with the repair works stepping aside the issue of apportioning responsibility until the rectification works are completed."

Works start

Rectification works for the 70,000 square metre affected areas will be carried out by several contractors under 115 projects.

"Works have commenced on 31 projects with the remaining projects to be carried out as soon as the matching tiles are available," she said, adding the task force will adopt a pro-active approach in handling new reports of debonded wall tiles.

"We will appoint a contractor delegated with the special task of carrying out rectification works for debonded wall tiles," she said.

Stressing that the causes of tiles debonding were complex with no consensus among stakeholders in the industry, Mrs Yiu said initial findings concluded that the problem might be attributable to:

* high production of public housing in the late 90's;

* technological transition; and,

* contractors' supervision and workmanship.

Specifications refined

To ensure better workmanship in laying of wall tiles, Mrs Yiu said specifications of tile fixing materials and laying methods had been refined with reference to international best practices and in conjunction with the industry.

"We have also adopted wider application of paintwork on internal walls in common areas of public rental housing estates to reduce the use of tiles for building projects commencing in 2003," Mrs Yiu said.

"Where tiles are employed, ceramic in lieu of homogenous wall tiles are used."