182. Low cost multi-storey buildings designed for a specific number of flats with staircases provided accordingly, were further sub-divided after occupation permits have been granted, thus defeating the objective of legislation which requires any building over 6 floors to have 2 stair- cases both accessible to all occupants.
183. As a result of these and many other varieties of violations by unscrupulous persons, multi-storey buildings in Hong Kong, which one hoped might provide 'the beginning of the end' of fire hazards traditional to Hong Kong, have become death traps. Hong Kong's modern 'look' was in fact producing life and fire hazards of a nature more grave than those which have already accounted for the lives of some 1,000 of its citizens.
184. It was obviously necessary, indeed vital to the public interest, that powers should be obtained to order the abolition of fire and life. hazards, and such powers were provided at the beginning of the year under review. The legislation provides that the Director, if satisfied that a fire hazard exists, may order the person responsible to abate it, failing which the facts are put before a magistrate with a view to either enforcing the Director's requirements, or ordering a restraint on the use of the building, or that part of the building where the fire hazard exists.
185. The extent of the problem can be measured by the fact that it has been necessary to issue some 400 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices per month since the legislation for so doing was enacted.
FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS
186. Prior to the beginning of 1964 no powers existed whereby the Fire Service could require developers to include in their buildings fire fighting equipment and other devices aimed at protecting the occupants from fire. Whilst in general developers were co-operative and could invariably be persuaded to provide fire fighting equipment and other devices, there were numerous instances where promises were not kept and buildings were in fact occupied without any protection being afforded to the occupant.
187. Even when fire fighting equipment was installed, Fire Service personnel had no powers to inspect, or to require it to be serviced and maintained.
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