Appendix II

Reply from relevant government departments in response to “Concern about the Window Safety of Public Facilities”

Southern District Office, Home Affairs Department

In the Southern District, there are currently five Community Halls/Community Centres (CHs/CCs), namely Wah Kwai Community Centre, Community Hall, Lei Tung Community Hall, Neighbourhood Community Centre and Stanley Community Hall. According to the existing arrangement, Housing Department (HD) is responsible for carrying out inspection and maintenance to the building structure, including windows of those CHs/CCs situated within a public housing estate under its purview (i.e. Wah Kwai Community Centre, Ap Lei Chau Community Hall and Lei Tung Community Hall). From 2016 onwards, HD has started to conduct window inspection at the above three CHs/CCs. Stanley Community Hall is situated at the Stanley Municipal Services Building and has no window. As regards South Horizons Neighbourhood Community Centre, according to the Buildings Department, the glass panels on the external wall are part of the external wall, and hence not covered by the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme.

The frontline management staff of CHs/CCs will pay attention to the condition of the facilities in the venues. Should there be any safety concern or if maintenance is necessary, the Southern District Office (SDO) will notify the relevant maintenance departments, such as HD or Architectural Services Department, for their action.

Hong Kong Public Libraries, Leisure and Cultural Services Department

At present, there are four public libraries under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in the Southern District, namely Aberdeen Public Library, Ap Lei Chau Public Library, Stanley Public Library and Public Library. The former three libraries are located at municipal services buildings of which the respective Building Management Committees are responsible for co-ordinating the liaison and management of building structural works and electrical and mechanical facilities. The external walls and windows, which are the structural parts of the municipal services buildings, are maintained and repaired by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD). The ArchSD has already performed window inspection and maintenance work at Ap Lei Chau Public Library and Stanley Public Library in early August this year and will arrange annual inspection for Aberdeen Public Library in due course. As for Pok Fu Lam Public Library, it is situated at Wah Chun House, Wah Fu Estate where the units are rental property of the Housing Department (HD). As the external walls and windows are

3 building structural parts of the property, the HD is responsible for the inspection and maintenance. The Library will co-operate with the HD in the inspection and maintenance arrangements. If any window is found unsafe, the Library will contact the HD for inspection and repair.

Southern District Leisure Services Office, Leisure and Cultural Services Department

LCSD paid much attention to the condition of its recreation, sports and ancillary facilities. The maintenance and repair works for the ancillary facilities (including windows) inside the leisure venues was arranged by the Architectural Services Department. There is 21 leisure venues with windows in the Southern District under LCSD (please refer to Annex). Our frontline venue management conducted routine patrols to the venue facilities. For facilities found defective, we would contact the works department for repair works. On the other hand, this Department also inspected the conditions of recreation, sports and ancillary facilities with relevant works department and worked out the annual maintenance or renovation programme when necessary.

Housing Department

According to the current arrangement, the Housing Department (HD) will provide repair services for structural related items including external windows (except glass) for Community Halls / Community Centres within the boundary of public housing estates. Since the Community Hall / Community Centre are not directly managed by HD, if SDO finds that those external windows that require repair, HD shall be contacted for follow-up. Upon receipt of the request, HD will closely communicate with SDO and arrange a contractor to follow up the repairs works If the repair responsibility by HD is confirmed.

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Annex

Southern District leisure venues under LCSD with windows

 Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park  Aberdeen Promenade  Ap Lei Chau Wind Tower Park

 Aberdeen Sports Centre  Aberdeen Tennis and Squash Centre  Ap Lei Chau Sports Centre  Stanley Sports Centre  Sports Centre  Yue Kwong Road Sports Centre

 Aberdeen Sports Ground

 Pao Yue Kong Swimming Pool

Beach  Beach  South Bay Beach   St. Stephen's Beach   Turtle Cove Beach  Beach 

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