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A Government spokesman said today (June 27) that the government is very concerned about the No. 4 alarm fire which broke out at Ngau Tau Kok Road on June 21. Two fire officers died when attending the fire. An inter-departmental working group was formed to enhance the fire safety of mini-storages. It convened the first meeting today to discuss short, medium and long-term measures to enhance the fire safety of mini-storages and similar premises.
The Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department, the Lands Department and the Labour Department will, starting from tomorrow, inspect all mini-storages and similar premises for any breach of the existing law. Inspections will first target mini-storages located in industrial buildings without automatic sprinkler systems, followed by other mini-storages. The relevant departments will take enforcement actions as soon as possible if there is any non-compliance. For example, where fire hazards are identified in mini-storages, the Fire Services Department will issue fire hazard abatement notices in accordance with the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95), and will even consider requesting operators to carry out works to remove fire hazards. The Buildings Department will issue order for removal of unauthorised building works under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123).
The Fire Services Department and relevant government departments will request the major operators of mini-storages in Hong Kong to take all possible management measures to improve fire safety, including increasing the number of security personnel, preventing storage of dangerous goods and strengthening fire prevention training for their employees, etc.
The working group will next discuss how to amend the law in order to strengthen the regulation of mini-storages.
The inter-departmental working group was led by the Security Bureau and its members included representatives from the Development Bureau, the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department, the Lands Department, the Planning Department and the Labour Department.
Ends/Monday, June 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:15
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