Question:
Question No.4
Reply by the Secretary for Security to a question by the Hon. WONG Lam in the Legislative Council
on Wednesday, 1 May, 1985
Can Government inform this Council whether compensation is provided for private properties damaged by the Fire Services Department during fire-fighting operations?
Reply:
No Sir,
The Government is not liable to pay compensation for any damage the Fire Services Department does during fire fighting operations or in the course of carrying out its other
duties under the Fire Services Ordinance, unless it can be shown
that the Department or its personnel have been negligent.
Members of the Department would also not be liable
to any action for damages as long as they were bona fide acting in the course of their duties under powers conferred by the Fire
Services Ordinance.
:
But the Fire Services Ordinance does specifically provide that any damage done by the Department or its personnel in the course of carrying out their legitimate duties on the occasion
of a fire would be deemed to be damage by fire within the meaning
of any policy of insurance against fire.