Three property owners fined over $31,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety improvement directions
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The Buildings Department (BD) issued fire safety improvement directions under section 5(1A) of the FS(CP)O to the property owner of a premises in a 54-year-old specified commercial building at Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, and the property owners of two premises in a 51-year-old specified commercial building at Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, requiring them to comply with certain fire safety construction requirements. These include reinstatement of the protected lobby to the escape staircase, removal of metal gates that open to the escape staircase, sealing up the door opening formed at the enclosure wall of the escape staircase, providing a fire door for separation of the lavatory and the protected lobby, and sealing up the window opening on the external wall.
Failing to comply with the statutory directions, the three owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted by the court and fined $10,910, $10,150 and $10,020 respectively.
"According to the FS(CP)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner of the specified commercial building under the ordinance", a spokesman for the BD said today (April 22).
Pursuant to section 5(7)(b) of the FS(CP)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Improvement Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(CP)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.
Ends/Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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