User:Jennimak4/sandbox

Introduction
In the afternoon of January 29 2010, a building at 45 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hong Kong, collapsed, causing 4 deaths and 2 injured.

Before Collapse
In 2004, the Buildings Department (BD) issued a repair order requiring owners to complete renovation work of the building in Ma Tau Wai Road. It is not until January 2010 that the personnel of the department discovered many parts were yet to be repaired. As a result, another repair order was issued, stipulating that renovation work should be done no later than July the same year. According to the Land Registry, it has received a prior repair order in 2009 concerning illegal structures in the patio and the stores.

Collapse
A construction worker has damaged the load-bearing wall during the removal of unauthorised building works.15 minutes before the accident, 5 workers ran out the building and warned others that the building was dangerous. The owner of the jewelry shop Mr. Hui said that the workers shouted the building was going to collapse but no one believed it. At 1:43pm, 999 report centre received a report that a woman was trapped in the building. The building started to collapse when the firemen arrived. The 6 stories high old building collapsed from the bottom.

After the collapse of the building
Building NO.	45J	45H	45G	45A-F Condition of building after the collapse	Completely collapsed	Damaged, with structural danger	Damaged, with structural danger	Secure, with crack between A and B Condition of residents after the collapsed	4 dead, 2 rescued, others were safe	No injuries or deaths, evacuated and rescued by firemen and police	No injuries or deaths	No injuries or deaths Short term measures of the building after the collapse	Cleaning up of rubble	Closed, removal of dangerous part, subsequent reinforcement	Closed, subsequent reinforcement	A-D temporary closed and re-opened. Long term measures of the building after the collapse	Re-build

Follow-up / investigation
The BD carried out an investigation after the collapse. After interviewing the witnesses and assessing the structural condition of the building, BD concluded at the end of the report that the condition of the building was acceptable and the collapse of 45J was likely to be triggered by the removal of illegal structure. The repairman, Chu Wai-wing, was fined for $10,000 on 6 March, 2013. Chu removed an external wall on the ground floor of 45J on 29 January, 2010 and was the only one prosecuted for causing the fatal collapse. Chu faced a maximum sentence of three years of prison and HK$1 million fine. The families of the deceased found the $10,000 penalty unacceptable.

Aftermath
After the building collapse, the Legislative Council held a meeting discussing methods to enhance the safety of old buildings immediately in effect to prevent the occurrence of similar tragedies.

Then Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen described the accident “a real tragedy” and promised that he would ensure that this sort of accident would not happen again.

Then Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the Buildings Department would not only investigate the accident, but also would strictly enforce and regulate building safety in Hong Kong. Property owners also have the responsibility to ensure the safety of their buildings.

The Social Welfare Department immediately arranged for the dissemination of relief funds to the victims for emergency use. Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that the donation could help further relieve the financial burden of the affected households.