pplementary to question No. 9 in the
Legislative Council on 23 January 1985
Miss DUN :- Sir, what were the Building Regulations applicable to fire detection
systems prior to 1964, and in which way do they differ from the present regulations?
Secretary for Security :- I am afraid I haven't got my history books with me
and I can't go back that far, but there is a substantial difference as I understand
it between whatever it was that was in force before 1964 and what we have to-day.
I might add that those buildings, particularly the hotels, which obviously must
be a cause of great concern to the Fire Services Department because of the very
nasty result which can happen if there is a serious fire in a hotel. The Fire
Services Department is working very hard with the hotel owners associations to
encourage them to introduce effective improvements and these talks are going
well as I understand it.
Miss DUNN Sir, can the Secretary for security say how many hotels and commercial
buildings were built before 1964%
Jecretary for Security :- Yes, we concentrate, Sir, on hotels
because, in fact,
the fire risk in commercial buildings is very low and it is better to deal with
commercial buildings in terms of regular inspections to make sure the fire hazards
are removed and
standards are generally
up
to scratch. As far as hotels
are concerned, there were 15, I think, hotels now in existence which were built
before 1964 and none of these hotels is right up to standard.
persuasion
Miss DUNN : Sir, is the only action available to the Government in respect to
Is there any other action that the Government can take?
these hotels pureumeion?
Secretary for Security :- The trouble is that the buildings before 1964, because
they weren't built to the present day standards it is not that easy
in fact,
it is very difficult for them to bring them up to the standard of to-day, the work
involves pulling them down and rebuilding them in fact. What improvements can be
introduced into each hotel depends on the nature of the building. Therefore
it is much better to use persuasion rather than have tight rules under the Law.