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The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, this morning (June 23) chaired an inter-departmental meeting on the No. 4 alarm fire in Ngau Chi Wan to receive from various departments and bureaux the latest updates and give directives to relevant officers to follow up on the incident at full strength.
Also attending the meeting were the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and senior officials from the Security Bureau (SB), the Development Bureau, the Food and Health Bureau, the Home Affairs Bureau, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Buildings Department (BD), the Home Affairs Department and the Hospital Authority.
The Government will take follow-up actions on three fronts. First, the FSD will, in co-operation with relevant departments including the BD, the Lands Department and the Labour Department, inspect mini-storages and similar premises in Hong Kong to ascertain if there has been any breach of the existing law. The relevant departments will take appropriate action where appropriate, including initiating prosecutions, and issuing advice or fire hazard abatement notices.
Second, the SB will lead an inter-departmental working group to study how to enhance the fire safety of mini-storages and similar premises.
Third, the Government will be in touch with members of the trade to better understand the operation of such premises, and to discuss with them short-term and medium-term measures to enhance fire safety. The Government does not rule out the possibility of amending the law as a longer-term measure to further improve fire safety.
As fire fighting is ongoing, BD officers cannot enter the building to inspect the interior condition. During inspection of to the exteriors of the building, cracks were found at certain isolated parts of the external walls. To ensure public safety, the FSD and the BD have cordoned off the areas nearby to prevent members of the public from approaching.
The BD has set up a task force at the scene to monitor the conditions of the building structure around the clock for ensuring public safety.
The BD will closely monitor the situation and liaise with the FSD, providing advice in respect of building safety to assist the FSD in its work. When the fire is put out and the temperature at the scene drops to an acceptable level, the BD will deploy staff to enter the building for detailed inspection of the building structure.
The relocation of more than 290 residents of two elderly homes at Tak Bo Garden has been arranged. Of them, more than 230 residents has been sent to about 10 elderly homes for temporary residential care services, while the remaining 60 or so residents have been picked up by their families to return home for temporary stay or sent to hospital for medical treatment due to discomfort.
A government spokesman said that family members of the affected residents who wish to enquire about the relocation arrangements may contact Tak Bo Nursing Center Limited (Tel: 2318 1328/2318 1116/5409 0856) or New Kiu Nursing Home Limited (Tel: 9623 6070/2796 9238).
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will continue to maintain close communication with the elderly homes to receive updates on developments, and to provide appropriate arrangements and support based on the latest situation. Relatives of the residents who wish to enquire about care arrangements or have difficulties may call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.
The Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO) has set up an inter-departmental help desk near the fire scene in the past two days and has all along co-ordinated with the departments concerned including the FSD, the Police and the SWD to offer assistance to the affected residents.
The KTDO has opened the temporary shelters at Lok Wah Estate Community Centre and Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre to people in need and has been providing meals, blankets and mattresses where necessary. In view of the developments, the KTDO will tonight relocate the help desk to Lok Wah Estate Community Centre at 80 Chun Wah Road, Lok Wah Estate to continue to render support to residents in need. For enquiries, please contact 2171 7426 or 2759 5815.
The Hospital Authority Major Incident Control Centre has been closely liaising with the FSD on the provision of medical treatment for the casualties of the fire, while the Accident and Emergency Departments of nearby public hospitals are staying vigilant towards patients affected by the fire and smoke. So far as at 5pm today, United Christian Hospital (UCH), Tseung Kwan O Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital have received a total of 33 patients. Among them, 23 are residents in the vicinity. One resident and nine firemen have been discharged. Twenty-two residents are in stable condition.
In addition, the Community Nursing Service of UCH paid a special visit to a nearby elderly home which is further away from the fire scene today to assess the conditions of residents, especially those with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions.
Ends/Thursday, June 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:12
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