Nature lovers can be thankful perhaps that so much of Hong Kong is either inconvenient to get to or not so easy to build on. There are more than 260 outlying islands, not forgetting the hills and mountains. This largely explains why 40% of Hong Kong’s land mass is occupied by country parks and nature reserves. Bureaucrats however seem to see the heart of the city as a nature free zone. Even the country parks sprout concrete paths and other parks have a long list of rules seemingly designed as a barrier to recreation. And on the rare occasion that a tree falls down, this collapse results in a massacre of dozens of other “killer trees”. After the collapse of one roof at City University, there are worries that green roofs could be the next feature to become the victim of excessive zeal.
In 1984 the Buildings Department began introducing guidelines for access facilities in neighbourhoods and buildings, aimed at creating a barrier-free environment for people with physical disabilities. But here we are, more than thirty years later, and things have improved somewhat, but not as much as they might have.
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If a plane were to came down due to
inexplicable mechanical fault all the other plane of the same model
would be grounded pending investigation. This is because the
operator/manufacturer is taking full responsibility of their action /
product. The solution in this case is simple. Remove ALL green roof
for the time being until they have been certified by Civil
Engineering Department. Regretefully, this department was sleeping on
the job when the CEO propose the green roof plan. May be this is also
a cultural issue. It is unthinkable for a head of department to
contradict the leader (this is a stupid idea). I will explain why. To
green the roof one must consider 1) surface water must not allow to
pentrate into the concrete. Water will erode the iron bar weaken the
structure, 2) the weight of soil, water and plants. Plants will grow
and become heavier. When we consider the waeight we also have to
consider the weight tomorrow, 3) some plants have deep routes. They
can pentrate a lot of materials to allow water to follow, 4) beware
of dry rote. They can go through concrete and, in some cases,
collapse a house in a matter of days. This list is not exhaustive.
The horror of ignorance is unfathamable. Let me explain. If the roof
of an apartment collapsed it would naturally land on the floor below.
The floor below is designed take an occasional piano not heavy
machinery like a factory. Theresfore the floor below would give way
very soon. Now we have the combined weight of two concrete floors
plus the weight of whatever is legally or illegally on to the next
floor. This floor will give way quicker. Now we have the vibration
added to the mix acerbate the collapse to the building. The full
effect is unpredictable. To green the city is a noble idea. How we do
it is a different matter. The current CEO suggest you to take a lunch
time dip to improve you health. Wait a minute, did some one saw his
shadow at that collapsed building years ago. God bless HK.