Updates on Sports Centre incident

 

To editors:

 

CityU strictly follows all laws and regulations when dealing with all types of work projects. For recently constructed buildings, including Academic 2, Academic 3, Creative Media Centre, and Student Residence Hall 10 & 11, the roof greening works were included in the planning stages, with statutory submissions to the Buildings Department of the HKSAR.

 

The greening works on the roof of the Sports Centre, Academic 1, Amenities Building and Cheng Yick-chi Building were assessed in accordance with related regulations by the contractor and its appointed Authorised Person, who defined that “the installation of the System is not classified as Building Works as defined in Section 2 of CAP 123 Buildings Ordinance”.     

 

Documents presented by Sinoway Construction Engineering Ltd to CityU in March and October 2015 clearly show that the Authorised Person for the greening project at the CityU Sports Centre is Chan Jor Kin Kenneth.

 

The Investigation Committee set up by the University to handle the incident will hold its first meeting at 9am on 23 May in Block One, To Yuen Building, CityU.

 

To allay public concerns, the University took the decision to remove vegetation from rooftops where steel structures similar to those at the Sports Centre are in place. Buildings affected by this decision include the Wei Hing Theatre and the two laboratories at Academic 1. The removal works at Wei Hing Theatre were completed on Saturday (21 May), while those at Academic 1 are expected to be completed on Monday (23 May).

 

The University is reviewing all green works on campus and has hired an Authorised Person and a structural engineer to conduct further safety inspections to related buildings on campus starting from Monday (23 May).  

 

Media enquiry:

CityU Communications & Public Relations Office Ms Karen Cheng (Tel: 3442 6805 or 9201 8895) or Ms Terry Lam (Tel: 3442 5228 or 6183 0947)