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Following is a question by Dr the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
Question:
Last month, an explosion and fire accident occurred in a vehicle repair workshop located on the ground floor of a residential building, resulting in a number of casualties. As a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxi under repair was found at the scene, the authorities are investigating if the accident was caused by LPG leakage from the taxi. Some members of the public are concerned whether there are loopholes in the mechanisms for regulating vehicle repair workshops and gas safety, and whether the authorities have strictly enforced the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap 572) and the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap 51). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the current number of gas safety inspectors in Hong Kong; in the past three years, the number of vehicle repair workshops inspected by them and the number of improvement notices issued by them;
(2) in the past three years, of the number of vehicle repair workshops inspected by the Fire Services Department and the number of fire safety directions issued to those workshops which had contravened the requirements;
(3) whether the authorities will step up inspections on high-risk spots, such as vehicle repair workshops, so as to ensure that gases and inflammable substances are properly disposed of; whether they will conduct a comprehensive review on whether there are loopholes in the existing regulatory systems for gases and dangerous goods;
(4) whether it has assessed if the existing 29 workshops approved for repairing the fuel systems of LPG vehicles in Hong Kong can meet the demand of about 20 000 LPG taxis for repair services;
(5) given that some members of the public have pointed out that some taxi drivers, for the sake of convenience, have their LPG taxis repaired by vehicle repair workshops nearby, without regard to whether these workshops are approved for repairing the fuel systems of LPG vehicles, what measures the authorities have in place to eradicate these practices; and
(6) of the current number of vehicle repair workshops located on the ground floor of residential buildings; given that some members of the public have pointed out that a large number of inflammable substances are generally stored in these workshops, in case of explosion, the residential areas in the vicinity may be affected, what measures the authorities have in place to make these workshops move out of residential areas; whether they will consider introducing a licensing regime for vehicle repair workshops in order to regulate them?
Reply:
President,
The Government would like to explain the regime of the Gas Safety Ordinance as it is applicable to the control of storage and use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The Gas Safety Ordinance regulates gas safety matters, with a view to ensuring the safety of importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of town gas, LPG and natural gas. In respect of LPG storage and installation, any containers with the aggregated nominal water capacity of more than 130 litres of LPG are "notifiable gas installations". The construction and use of "notifiable gas installations" requires the approval of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). At present, there are 571 approved LPG "notifiable gas installations" including 29 vehicle maintenance workshops that have been approved for storing LPG fuel tanks of more than 130 litres. In considering whether approval should be granted to vehicle maintenance workshops for storing LPG fuel tanks of more than 130 litres, the EMSD will consider if the vehicle maintenance workshops comply with the safety requirements in respect of the design, construction and location, including good ventilation, restricted from locations for occupation, and the installation of gas detection system, mechanical ventilation systems and fire prevention systems, etc.
For the purpose of enforcing the Gas Safety Ordinance, the Gas Safety Inspectors of the EMSD conducted in each of the past three years over 1 300 inspections to the approved LPG "notifiable gas installations". These inspections included inspections at least once a year of the 29 vehicle maintenance workshops that have been approved for storing LPG fuel tanks of more than 130 litres, as well as random surprise inspections.
For maintenance and repair of LPG vehicles not involving LPG fuel systems, the work may be carried out in general vehicle maintenance workshops. As for any work on or in relation to a gas pipe, including work on the fuel tank or other associated components, the Gas Safety Ordinance stipulates that such work should be carried out by a competent person or under the supervision of a person who is competent. Any replacement of LPG fuel tanks or any maintenance, repair or replacement work for other associated components are required to be carried out by a Competent Person (Class 6) or a person under the supervision of a Competent Person (Class 6). Competent Persons (Class 6) approved by the EMSD are required to complete the LPG Vehicle Servicing Programme provided by the Vocational Training Council and possess practical experience. At present, there are over 1 100 Competent Persons (Class 6) in Hong Kong, and they may replace LPG fuel tanks or carry out any maintenance, repair or replacement work for other associated components in any vehicle maintenance workshops.
(1) The 39 EMSD Gas Safety Inspectors have conducted an average of over 1 300 inspections each year to the 571 LPG "notifiable gas installations" in the past three years. These inspections included inspections at least once a year of the 29 vehicle maintenance workshops that have been approved for storing LPG fuel tanks of more than 130 litres, as well as random surprise inspections.
In the past three years, the EMSD has prosecuted one unqualified person for conducting repair work on the fuel system of LPG vehicles. The EMSD has also prosecuted the owner of a container for using that container as LPG container on a taxi without approval. In addition, the EMSD is conducting investigation on two cases involving vehicle maintenance workshops with over-storage of LPG.
(2) The Fire Services Department (FSD) did not keep separate statistics of the inspections made to or the number of fire safety directions issued to vehicle maintenance workshops in the past.
(3) Since the explosion and fire incident in late April this year, the EMSD has conducted 350 additional inspections to vehicle maintenance workshops (including all vehicle maintenance workshops in Wong Tai Sin District) to ensure that the vehicle maintenance workshops have not contravened the requirements under the Gas Safety Ordinance. This involved ensuring that the vehicle maintenance shops have not stored more than 130 litres of LPG without approval, and that replacement of the fuel tank or other associated components is carried out by a Competent Person (Class 6) or under the supervision of a Competent Person (Class 6). During the inspections, the EMSD identified two cases involving vehicle maintenance workshops with over-storage of LPG and investigation is in progress. The EMSD is also planning to inspect all 2 700 vehicle maintenance workshops in Hong Kong in the next few weeks.
In addition, following the explosion and fire on April 26, the FSD immediately conducted inspections of all vehicle maintenance workshops in the Wong Tai Sin District. The FSD has commenced a territory-wide inspection on April 29, and expects to complete the territory-wide inspection of around 2 700 vehicle maintenance workshops in Hong Kong by the end of July.
As at May 7, the FSD has inspected 558 vehicle maintenance workshops. During the inspections, four cases of over-storage of dangerous goods in breach of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (DGO, Cap 295) have been identified. The FSD has taken enforcement action against the relevant responsible persons.
As regards the regulatory control on dangerous goods, pursuant to section 6(1) of the DGO, except under and in accordance with a licence granted under the DGO, no person shall manufacture, store, convey or use any dangerous goods. For storage of dangerous goods in excess of the exempted volumes, a Dangerous Goods Licence should be obtained from the FSD. The FSD will continue to enforce the DGO with a view to ensuring a proper and appropriate regulation over dangerous goods.
In response to the explosion incident in Tsz Wan Shan, relevant departments will review the existing policy and consider appropriate follow-up action.
(4) and (5) For maintenance and repair of LPG vehicles not involving LPG fuel systems, the work may be carried out in general vehicle maintenance workshops. Any replacement of LPG fuel tanks or any maintenance, repair or replacement work for other associated components are required to be carried out by a Competent Person (Class 6) or a person under the supervision of a Competent Person (Class 6). Competent Persons (Class 6) are required to complete the LPG Vehicle Servicing Programme provided by the Vocational Training Council and possess practical experience. At present, there are more than 1 100 Competent Persons (Class 6) in Hong Kong, and they may replace LPG fuel tanks or carry out any maintenance, repair or replacement work for other associated components in any vehicle maintenance workshops.
The Transport Department has all along reminded the taxi trade that any repair work of LPG fuel system should be carried out under the supervision of a competent person approved by the EMSD.
(6) According to the site visit conducted by the EMSD in 2014, there are 2 700 vehicle maintenance workshops in Hong Kong, among which 1 300 are located on the ground floor of residential buildings.
None of the 29 vehicle maintenance workshops that have been approved by the EMSD are located on the ground floor of residential buildings.
As regards the regulatory control on dangerous goods, pursuant to section 6(1) of the DGO, except under and in accordance with a licence granted under the DGO, no person shall manufacture, store, convey or use any dangerous goods. For storage of dangerous goods in excess of the exempted volumes, a Dangerous Goods Licence should be obtained from the FSD. The FSD will continue to enforce the DGO with a view to ensuring a proper and appropriate regulation over dangerous goods.
In response to the explosion incident in Tsz Wan Shan, relevant departments will review the existing policy and consider appropriate follow-up action.
Ends/Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:19
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