Residents of a rehabilitation centre for the disabled in Ho Man Tin are being temporarily rehoused after the building was found to be partially subsiding, the government said on Thursday.

Officials said they were notified by the SAHK rehabilitation organisation in late May that cement was peeling off some of the walls at the LOHAS Centre on Sheung Shing Street.

Monitoring stations were set up in June and officials found subsidence of up to 33 millimetres in part of the building.

The Architectural Services Department said it carried out some initial grouting work and while the building is structurally safe, further maintenance, assessments and surveying work will be carried out and some of this will create noise and dust.

"To avoid causing inconvenience to staff and visitors... the Social Welfare Department will help residents move to other suitable homes for the time being," the Architectural Services Department said, adding that it is not clear how long it will take for the work to be completed.

SAHK said day-time students at the site will also be affected by the temporary closure.

Social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said the arrangements could have been made sooner.

"The government realised the situation in May but unluckily the arrangements lasted for several months. I don't understand why it took several months to consider the case and to make the arrangements," he said.
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Last updated: 2023-08-17 HKT 17:24