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The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has decided to ban two electric fans from the Hong Kong market after tests found them unsafe.

The products are "Ying Zuan KYT-30 Box Fan" and "Garlo Clip Fan".

"This is the first time that the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services exercises his power to prohibit the supply of unsafe electrical products," a spokesman for EMSD said today (Thursday).

"We have recently conducted sample tests on various brands and models of electric fans as part of our effort to enforce the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation (EPSR) and we found these two models failing to comply with the essential safety requirements," the spokesman said.

The major failures include:

* inadequate protection against access to live parts and

insufficient insulation strength;

* improper fixture of internal wiring and insufficient

electrical clearance;

* inadequate protection on fan guards;

* resistance failure to moisture, heat and fire;

* failure in abnormal operation test.

"These may give rise to electric shock, short circuit, flash over and even fire hazards," the spokesman said.

"Consumers are strongly advised to stop using these products immediately," he said, adding that a notice prohibiting the supply of these two fans will be published in the Gazette tomorrow (Friday).

"Any person who supplies prohibited electrical products is liable to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment of one year on first conviction and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of two years on subsequent conviction under the Electricity Ordinance," he said.

Since the EPSR took effect in May 1998, EMSD has conducted 2, 835 random inspections on electrical product outlets and taken out prosecutions against the supply of unsafe electrical products. So far, seven cases have been successfully convicted.

End/Thursday, April 15, 1999

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