Mandatory building inspection: An independent study on aged private buildings and professional workforce in Hong Kong

Abstract

Memories are still vivid on the incident: on 29 January 2010, a five-storey building at 45J Ma Tau Wai Road, To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong collapsed, causing four deaths and two injuries. The tragedy has raised public concerns about the safety of many of Hong Kong's old and dilapidated buildings. Realising that the presence of ageing buildings lacking proper care and maintenance poses potential threats to residents and the public at large, since 2012, the Buildings Department has implemented the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) to carry out inspection and rectification works for buildings aged 30 years or above.

This book, as a pioneer to review and examine the statistics and distributions of the aged buildings in Hong Kong, provides critical insights on the building decay and neglect problems. The statistical information highlighted in the book also serves to project the estimated number of aged buildings to be covered by the MBIS in the future, and the demand of professional workforce expected for the successful implementation of MBIS.

The book is useful for the practising professionals in the building industry, such as surveyors, engineers and government officials. It is also an excellent reference for students and researchers in Surveying, Construction Management and related disciplines.