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Following is a question by the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (May 15):
Question:
On April 20 this year, a Number 3 alarm fire broke out at Tai Shing Street Market in Wong Tai Sin. Not until seven hours later was the blaze put out. Apart from the dry goods area on the first floor of the market being severely burnt down, the stalls on the ground and second floors were also affected. As a result, the market had to be closed down temporarily, with more than 400 stalls being affected. During the closure of the market, the residents of Wong Tai Sin District who are long-time patrons of the market have no alternative but to go elsewhere to buy food, which has affected their daily lives. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the progress of the rehabilitation works of the aforesaid market; when the repairs to the ancillary public facilities (e.g. escalators) will be completed; when the market can resume full operation; whether the relevant inspection, assessment and rehabilitation works can be expedited so as to enable the stalls to resume business as soon as possible in a safe environment provided with the necessary facilities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether any temporary measures are in place to facilitate members of the public to buy food before the market is fully rehabilitated; and
(c) whether it knows the total pecuniary loss suffered by the traders due to the fire; whether the Government has provided assistance to help the stalls resume business (including granting a rent-free period and, where necessary, arranging the relocation of stalls to nearby markets on a short-term or long-term basis); if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In the wake of the Number 3 alarm fire at Tai Shing Street Market in Wong Tai Sin in the early morning of April 20 this year, we had to close the ground, first and second floors of the market right away. Immediately after the fire, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) took remedial actions, in conjunction with the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). Having ascertained the extent to which the market was affected by the fire and the areas that required restoration, we put emergency repairs in action. At the same time, FEHD stayed in touch with the trade association concerned and stall operators affected on matters related to resumption of business in the market.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) and (b) Starting from April 21, the Fire Services Department had uplifted the temporary closure of Tai Shing Street Market by phases so that staff of the relevant departments could gain access to the premises for the purpose of carrying out assessments and follow-up actions. FEHD has, in collaboration with ArchSD and EMSD, conducted inspections in the market and examined the safety of the building forthwith.
After obtaining confirmation from site inspections that the market was safe, we allowed all stalls on the ground and second floors and some of the stalls on the first floor of the market to resume operation. These stalls sell fresh provision like fish, meat, poultry, siu mei and lo mei, vegetables, fruits, and cooked food.
Stalls in the dry goods zone that is located on the first floor of the market are yet to resume operation. They include stalls that are close to where the fire broke out. The departments concerned are now moving full steam ahead with works for restoring power supply and repainting the premises of the stalls close to where the fire broke out. These stalls are expected to be ready for resumption of business in mid-May upon completion of the repair works. About 100 stalls in the immediate vicinity of the fire were badly damaged. In these cases, stabilisation and repair works of more significant scale are required and the departments concerned would also have to conduct detailed safety checks. Hence, it is unlikely that the stalls in question would be able to resume business in the short run. After the scope and schedule of the repair works are confirmed, FEHD would keep the stall operators in the picture.
For stall operators who are unable to resume business in the short run, FEHD is planning to temporarily relocate them to the vacant stalls on the first floor of Tai Shing Street Market. FEHD will discuss the detailed arrangements with them in due course. According to the present estimate and subject to suitable retrofitting, the existing vacant stalls could accommodate the vast majority of the affected stall operators.
There are two passenger lifts, two cargo lifts and four sets of escalators in Tai Shing Street Market. During the fire fighting operations, the lift and escalator pits were badly flooded, causing serious damage to most of the mechanical parts. Among these, one passenger lift, one cargo lift and two sets of escalators have resumed normal service after emergency repair works. Repair works for the remaining lifts and escalators are now underway. We hope to resume service as soon as possible.
(c) As and when the temporary closure of the market is lifted, FEHD has deployed additional manpower to assist stall operators in taking stock of the damages to their stalls and goods. In parallel, FEHD and the relevant departments are pressing ahead with the repair works for early resumption of business. At this stage, the Government is unable to assess the full extent of loss caused by the fire.
As mentioned above, FEHD plans to temporarily relocate the stall operators who are unable to resume business in the short run to the vacant ones on the first floor of Tai Shing Street Market. For stall operators whose business is suspended or affected due to the repair works in the market, FEHD will offer rental concessions in accordance with established arrangement.
In view of this incident, FEHD will step up enforcement actions against the practices of stall operators who store articles at the top of their stalls as well as other acts that are obstructing fire escape or the functioning of fire service installations, with a view to reducing fire risk in public markets.
Ends/Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:53
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