The Security Bureau today (August 9) launched a two-month public consultation to seek views on the legislative proposal for improving the fire safety of old industrial buildings.

     To upgrade the fire safety standards of old industrial buildings, the Government proposes to introduce a new piece of legislation to mandate owners and occupiers of pre-1987 industrial buildings to upgrade the requirements of fire service installations and equipment as well as fire safety construction of their buildings.

     The new legislation targets buildings which were wholly or partly constructed to be used as a factory, workshop, industrial undertaking, godown, warehouse, place of bulk storage or similar industrial establishment on or before March 1, 1987, or those constructed for the aforesaid uses with their building plans first submitted to the Building Authority for approval on or before the same date. Under the new legislation, the Director of Fire Services and Director of Buildings, being the enforcement authorities, will inspect the target buildings and serve fire safety directions to require the owners and/or occupiers to upgrade the fire safety of such buildings to the required standard. The owners and/or occupiers must comply with the requirements within the period as stipulated in the directions.

     The consultation paper on the legislative proposal is now available on the website www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/consultation/ib-bill.htm.

     Members of the public are invited to submit their views to the Security Bureau by mail to 9th Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong; by fax to 2868 9159; or by email to fsibb_consultation@sb.gov.hk. The consultation will end on October 8, 2018.

Ends/Thursday, August 9, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:00

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