*************************

Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Sophie Leung and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Ms Miranda Chiu, in the Legislative Council today (November 7):

Question:

In June this year, a person was injured in an accident in which a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooking stove exploded, allegedly caused by gas leakage. It was reported that the cooking stove involved in the accident was bought from the Mainland and was not fitted with flame failure device. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the number of fire or explosion incidents caused by gas leakage from LPG cooking stoves without flame failure device, in each of the past three years; and

(b) the measures taken to prevent such LPG cooking stoves from being brought into Hong Kong; if no measures have been taken, of the reasons for that, and whether it will consider introducing interception measures in order to reduce such accidents?

Reply:

Madam President,

My reply to the question raised by the Hon Mrs Sophie Leung is as follows:

(a) The record of the Gas Authority (i.e. the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services) shows that the number of fire or explosion incidents caused by gas leakage involving LPG cooking stoves without flame failure device from 1998 to date is as follows -

       Year     No. of reported fire or explosion incidents

       1998                         2

       1999                         1

       2000                         0

       2001 (up to October)         1

(b) In consultation with the Gas Safety Advisory Committee and the industry, the Gas Authority has drawn up and published in June 1998, a code of practice on domestic gas appliances for voluntary compliance by the industry. The code requires compliance with established international and national standards for domestic gas appliances as well as sets out specific provisions on product quality and safety for models imported into Hong Kong. One of the safety requirements stipulated in the code is that each burner of the appliance must have a flame failure device.

Thus far, over 80 per cent of the sales volume covering about 250 models of domestic gas appliances available for installation in Hong Kong has been submitted by suppliers and approved by the Gas Authority. The Gas Authority estimates that all models of domestic gas water heaters and about 95 per cent of domestic gas cooking appliances being sold for installation in Hong Kong have flame failure device.

As a next step, we intend to introduce regulations in 2002 to require those new domestic gas appliances manufactured, imported or installed for use in Hong Kong must be approved by the Gas Authority. When the new regulations come into operation, import, sale and installation of new domestic gas cooking stoves without flame failure device will be prohibited.

End/Wednesday, November 7, 2001

NNNN