Authorities approve resumption of foundation works at Kai Tak housing project after ground settlement issue

The foundation works of a Kai Tak public housing project were approved to be resumed by the authorities on Thursday after a minor settlement issue at an emergency exit at Sung Wong Toi station was found in June.

The works within 30 meters of the emergency exits were suspended since June 5 as the reading recorded in a settlement monitoring checkpoint reached the 20-millimeter pre-set trigger level for work suspension.

The settlement monitoring checkpoint was installed by the authorities, which was required by the MTR Corporation to protect railways.

The building professional team of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) submitted an investigation report after the incident and also a proposal of mitigation measures to ensure that the structural safety of the nearby railway facilities concerned would not be affected by the resumption of work. 

After considering relevant advice and mitigation measures, the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing, the Buildings Department, and the MTR Corporation accepted the request for work resumption on Thursday.

The relevant suspended foundation works were resumed on the same day. 

The ICU has also accepted the detailed engineering analyses and the revised plans submitted by the HA's team to amend the emergency exit point's pre-set settlement trigger level for suspension of works to 36 millimeters from 20 millimeters. The team has confirmed that such an extent of settlement will not affect the railway facilities' structural safety.