***********************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, in the Legislative Council today (July 11):
Question:
In reply to a Member's question, at the Council meeting on October 9, 2002, on replacement of hollow wooden doors of public rental housing ("PRH") flats, the Government advised that hollow wooden doors used in 380000 old PRH flats did not comply with the fire resistance requirements for residential flat doors stipulated in the revised Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction issued under the Buildings Ordinance in 1996. The Government planned to replace the flat entrance doors for PRH flats mainly located at "dead ends" of fire escape routes in old PRH estates as well as for some flats sold under the Tenants Purchase Scheme with solid-core doors that could resist fire for at least half an hour, and review the effectiveness of the replacement programme in 12 to 18 months' time. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the outcome of the above review; and
(b) whether the authorities concerned will consider replacing the hollow wooden doors of the remaining PRH flats, so that the flat entrance doors of all PRH flats will have the same level of fire resistance; if not, of the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Housing Authority (HA) commissioned a professional fire consultancy firm in 2002 to assess the overall fire risk of public rental housing (PRH) flats completed in or before 1996. The consultancy report found that all the flats met the fire safety standards. To enhance the fire safety level of the flats along one-way fire escapes ("dead ends"), the report suggested replacing the hollow core flush doors of these units with solid core flush doors which are more fire resistant. The replacement programme was completed in March 2006. The flush doors of over 100000 flats along one-way fire escapes were replaced.
To further improve the facilities of old PRH flats, the Housing Department (HD) has earmarked funds to replace the flush doors of other flats on a need basis. Under the HD's ongoing "Total Maintenance Scheme", technical staff will inspect and carry out maintenance works for all PRH flats in Hong Kong. They will check if the facilities in the flats operate properly, including checking whether the flush doors are damaged or dilapidated and therefore require replacement. If replacement is necessary, the HD will arrange for replacing the flush doors of the flats concerned with solid-core ones. The HD will also arrange for replacement with solid-core doors during refurbishment of vacant flats and when it receives requests from residents for replacement of damaged or dilapidated flush doors.
Ends/Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:00
NNNN
