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The Fire Services Department (FSD), Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Home Affairs Department (HAD) and Buildings Department have completed their joint inspection of all karaoke establishments today (October 8).
The Departments involved have inspected a total of 303 karaoke establishments located in 224 buildings, and 187 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs) have been issued.
A Government spokesman said, "The inter-departmental operation started on August 18, with karaoke establishments located in composite buildings built in or before 1987 being the targets in the initial stage of the operation."
The spokesman said, "To show the Government's determination to take action against operators who contravene the relevant regulations, upon completion of the initial stage, the Departments concerned soon conducted a second stage inspection targeting all remaining karaoke establishments in the territory, including those located in composite buildings built after 1987, and all such establishments located in commercial buildings."
So far, the relevant operators have already successfully complied with the requirements of 30 of the FHANs issued. FSD is following up on the remaining FHANs and will take legal actions against those who fail to comply with the requirements within the specified period. FEHD is also actively following up on the cases of licensed food premises suspected to have operated karaoke activities without the required permit or without being exempted from applying for a permit, and summons have already been laid against 10 such premises.
The authorities will continue to monitor and follow up on the fire safety of karaoke establishments and other types of licensed premises through routine inspections, inter-departmental meetings for strengthening the referral mechanism, and joint operations of similar nature each year. FSD will also partner other departments from time to time to make surprise inspections of the fire safety of other licensed premises.
The spokesman reiterated that building fire safety depends not only on the inspections and enforcement by Government departments, but more importantly the public's cooperation and support.
FSD and HAD will step up publicity on fire prevention, encouraging the public to raise their awareness and develop good habits on fire safety, and to always keep the buildings' fire safety installations and facilities properly maintained.
The spokesman said, "If the public come across any violations against fire safety, they should report such incidents to the authorities immediately. The number of FSD's 24-hour hotline is 2723-8787."
Ends/Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:05
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