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In response to press enquiries, a spokesman for the Lands Department said today (Thursday) that there is no question of the Government using the requirement for emergency vehicular access (EVA)as an excuse to disapprove application for village house development.

The EVA requirement ensures that emergency vehicles including fire engines and ambulances have access to the village houses in case of an emergency.

Village house development in a site with a cumulative of 10 village houses or more will only be considered if a proper emergency vehicular access is available within 30 metres from the site.

"This is essential for the protection of life and property," the spokesman stressed.

"If EVA cannot be provided because of site constraints," the spokesman added, "the Lands Department will assist the villagers concerned to explore other alternatives to satisfy the fire safety requirements in consultation with the Fire Services Department on the merits of each case."

"However, public safety should come first and should not be compromised," he added.

A total of 1,160 village house developments in the New Territories have been executed in the past nine months. Of that total, 205 or about 18 per cent came from Sai Kung district.

The present EVA requirement has been enforced since 1997 as part of the measures to implement the recommendations in the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (COMAC)'s report on Existing Procedures Governing the Provision of Emergency Vehicular Accesses and Fire Service Installations for Public and Private Building Developments published in 1996.

The report was prompted by a fire at Yue Wan Estate, Chai Wan in 1995 which generated widespread public concern over the provision of EVA and proper maintenance of fire service installations.

End/Thursday, January 13, 2000

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