Complaints to the Ombudsman about the handling of water seepages in private buildings almost doubled after a special office was set up for the problem, it was reported yesterday.
A joint office comprising officers from the buildings and environmental hygiene departments was set up in 2006 to co-ordinate investigations after complaints of 'rounds of referrals and counter-referrals'.
In some cases, the Water Supplies Department can also step in. But the Ombudsman found the grievances were continuing. 'There is no service pledge ... so it is hard for the joint office to monitor its works,' Ombudsman Alice Tai Yuen-ying said.
In the 12 months to June, the Ombudsman received 145 complaints on the government's handling of seepage, compared with 85 complaints the year before, when the office had not been set up.
'In one case, the office took more than two years for an investigation,' Ms Tai said. 'It is very unacceptable.'
The joint office received the complaint in March 2005 and tests and a visit were conducted five months later. 'Since then there had been no action for 23 months,' Ms Tai said. 'The joint office contacted the complainant again in July 2007, and the affected flat had already [been] sold. There is clearly a lack of effective monitoring for processing complaints.'
Seepage involving wastewater or tap water is a common problem in ageing buildings. Although owners of private flats are responsible, the government has a duty to ensure the seepage does not create hygiene problems or damage buildings.
