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Following is a question by the Hon Tsang Yok-sing and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (July 10):

Question:

Regarding establishments which mainly engage in the business of renting out computers with Internet access on a time charge basis (commonly known as "Internet cafes"), will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the estimated number of such establishments at present;

(b) of the number of fire outbreaks in such establishments over the past three years and, among them, the number which involved contravention of fire safety legislation by the persons-in-charge of the establishments concerned; and

(c) whether, given the usually large number of customers in such establishments, the authorities concerned have assessed the necessity to stipulate more stringent requirements on fire safety measures for such establishments; if the assessment is in the affirmative, of the legislative timetable; if not, the justifications for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

My reply to the Honourable Member's question is as follows:

(a) According to Police records, there are about 290 Internet cafes in Hong Kong.

(b) Over the past three years, there was only one outbreak of fire involving Internet cafes. The fire was caused by a small coffee heater, which accidentally caught fire while it was being fuelled. As the fire occurred in an establishment issued with a Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as well as the Labour Department were asked to take follow-up action.

(c) Internet cafes have to comply with the existing fire safety requirements applicable to the buildings in which they are located. The Fire Services Department regularly inspects the existing 200-plus Internet cafes. In view of the disaster in the Beijing Internet cafes in May, we have subsequently requested the Fire Services Department to conduct another inspection on the fire safety installations of the internet cafes. Slight obstructions to fire safety installations such as blocking of sprinkler head nozzles by ornaments and of hose reels by miscellaneous items were found in only eighteen of them. There was no contravention of fire safety regulations in the other Internet cafes. The Fire Services Department has issued Fire Hazard Abatement Notices or warning letters to the persons-in-charge of these eighteen Internet cafes requiring them to rectify the irregularities within a specified period.

The Home Affairs Bureau is now considering the need to regulate Internet cafes by legislation. In formulating relevant policies, the Administration has to take into account various factors such as the policy to promote the development and wider application of information technology, prevention of the operation of such establishments from making negative impacts on youngsters, as well as building and fire safety issues. Several options on the regulation of Internet cafes will be put forward to the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs this Friday. We will brief and consult the Panel on such options. Consultations with the District Councils and the trade will also be conducted afterwards.

End/Wednesday, July 10, 2002

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