Govt to co-ordinate programme to improve fire safety in private buildings

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The Government will co-ordinate a programme for full implementation of proposals contained in the consultation paper to improve fire safety in private buildings, a government spokesman said today (Friday).

A two-month consultation on the proposals was launched from June to August this year, during which the Legislative Council and its Panel on Security, 18 Provisional District Boards or their committees, over 50 professional bodies, interest groups, political parties and district organisations have been consulted.

"The Government received a total of 75 written submissions. The community is supportive of our objective to improve fire safety and building management in private buildings," the spokesman said.

There is also general consensus that there is a close correlation between good building management and fire safety, and that bureaux and departments should make a concerted effort comprising the following aspects:

* Compulsory building management for problematic buildings;

* Upgrading of fire safety standards in private buildings;

* Removal of unauthorised building works affecting fire safety; and

* Monitoring of maintenance of communal electrical installations in buildings.

"We will take this into account and, together with relevant bureaux and departments, seek to co-ordinate a programme to improve fire safety in private buildings," the spokesman said.

Following is a summary of public views regarding each of the proposals in the consultation document, and the Government's response to those views:

I) Urgent Solutions

(A) Building Management

The services by the Home Affairs Department (HAD) on building management are generally recognised by the public, although some have called for better support for building owners. The Department will continue to improve and expand its services and assist building owners to solve building management problems as far as resources allow. Activities at the district level will continue to be organised to promote good building management and fire safety. Copies of a new Fire Safety Checklist have been distributed among building management bodies, property management and security companies, and building owners and residents to facilitate self-inspection of their buildings. For buildings without any management bodies, the HAD will continue to encourage the formation of owners' corporations (OC) or mutual aid committees such that the management of their buildings can be improved.

(B) Removal of Fire Hazards

The community generally agrees that there is an urgent need to remove the identified fire hazards in private buildings and have urged the departments to step up inspections and enforcement actions. Some have asked for better co-ordination of work by various departments. The Fire Services Department (FSD) has been following up on the fire hazards identified in a territory-wide building survey conducted between February and March this year. Up to August 31, 1998, over 2 700 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs) have been issued requiring responsible persons to remove identified fire hazards. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will step up inspection of electrical installation in buildings to ensure compliance with the relevant safety requirements. A pamphlet to provide detailed information on different statutory safety requirements, the Building Safety Inspection Scheme, guidelines on safety checks and available sources of financial assistance is being prepared.

There are suggestions that the Buildings Department (BD) should speed up the demolition of unauthorised rooftop structures (URS) and other unauthorised building works (UBW). While it is not possible to condense the two-phased URS demolition programme further given the impact on the large number of rooftop occupants affected, the Government will review the position after the first phase of the programme in 2002. UBW falling outside the URS demolition programme will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the BD's policy. Specifically, the BD will take immediate enforcement action against those posing an obvious hazard to life or property and significant new UBW. In addition, illegal alterations to means of escape in prescribed commercial premises and specified commercial buildings will be rectified under the Fire Services (Commercial Premises) Ordinance (FS(CP)O).

The community has expressed support to the objective to promote a fire safety culture. The Government plans to organise another large-scale fire safety publicity campaign in 1999/2000 to further enhance public awareness of fire safety as well as to cultivate and sustain a fire safety culture in the community. The FSD has also accelerated the Fire Safety Ambassadors (FSA) training programme, with membership to increase from 1 503 to 4 000 by the end of this year. The programme will be further expanded in 1999, with the FSD proposing to recruit caretakers as FSA.

The HAD will speed up the establishment of District Fire Safety Committees (DFSC) and Building Management Resource Centre (BMRC). The Department will have DFSCs to cover all 18 districts by 1999 while it plans to open a second BMRC on Hong Kong Island and a third one in Tuen Mun to serve the New Territories.

II) Further Proposals to Improve Fire Safety

(A) Building Management

(i) Compulsory/mandatory management of buildings

The public generally supports the conceptual proposal of mandatory/compulsory management of problematic buildings identified by the FSD and the BD. Home Affairs Bureau will work closely with the Department of Justice on the proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance to take this proposal forward.

(ii) Condominium title

Public views on this issue are divided. Most are against the compulsory formation of OCs in all buildings on the ground of possible violation of human rights or other reasons. The HAB does not propose to introduce compulsory formation of OC in all existing buildings, but will continue to encourage building owners to form OC and to participate in the management of their buildings. The conceptual proposal of 'Condominium title' is intended to apply to new buildings only. The legal and practical details of the proposal will be examined further in conjunction with the Department of Justice and relevant departments.

(B) Upgrading Fire Safety Standards of Private Buildings

The public generally recognises the need to improve fire safety in old private buildings. Some suggested that the Government deal with residential buildings in parallel with composite buildings. FSD's survey revealed that the fire safety condition in composite buildings was the most unsatisfactory. In view of the large flow of people and high fire risks, the Government proposes to upgrade fire safety in composite buildings as a matter of priority. It will be in the form of a phased programme, with priority accorded to pre-1973 composite buildings.

The Government plans to introduce new legislation for upgrading fire safety in composite buildings in the 1999/2000 legislative session. Reference will be made to the established arrangements under the FS(CP)O.

There is general support for this proposal. However, there are concerns that the categorisation scheme would affect the transaction of such properties. The Department of Justice will be consulted on the legal implications of the categorisation scheme in the context of the proposed legislation.

(D) Financial Assistance to Owners

The general public is concerned about the costs of complying with the statutory requirements to upgrade the fire safety standards of their buildings. As the package of proposals aims at bringing about an overall improvement to the management and fire safety of private buildings, the Government remains of the view that using public revenue to subsidise private building owners by providing interest-free loans or grants is not justified. Rather, the Government will consider flexible means of financial assistance for building owners, similar to the arrangements under the Fire Safety Improvement Loan Scheme and the Building Safety Improvement Loan Scheme.

End/Friday, October 9, 1998

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