188. Multi-storey buildings are, from a fire hazard view point, virtually townships or villages superimposed upon one another and it was quite wrong that the taxpayer generally should have to bear the brunt of mobile fire protection to make good deficiencies of internal protection. Obviously the cost of the latter was a proper charge to developers and subsequently tenants and owners.
189. The Buildings Ordinance was therefore amended in the early part of 1964 to provide powers whereby the Director of Fire Services could prescribe minimum standards for the installation of fire protection devices, and a certificate to the effect that the Director's minimum requirements have been met must now be obtained before an occupation permit is granted.
190. Legislation also provided for powers of inspection of installa- tions and other devices and for annual survey of their effectiveness.
191. Concurrently with the amendment of the Buildings Ordinance a Code of Practice setting out in detail the various standards and/or permutations of, types of equipment required to be installed was publish- ed to enable all developers and their advisers to be able to reasonably anticipate in any given circumstances the extent to which internal fire protection will be provided.
192. Since the above legislation has been in force, the occasions when the requirements of the Fire Prevention Bureau have been challenged by developers have been rare, and in no instance has it not been possible to reach a standard that has been mutually acceptable to both the Fire Service and the architect concerned,
193. The administration of this legislation has confirmed the view frequently expressed in the Fire Service, namely that there are firms operating in Hong Kong who sell and install sub-standard fire equipment to the public. The average member of the public of course knows little or nothing of these matters and relies upon salesmen. For obvious reasons Fire Service personnel cannot become involved in recommending a particular product; thus members of the public are at the mercy of unscrupulous firms and their salesmen.
194. To correct this state of affairs, legislation is being considered which will provide for persons selling and installing fire equipment and other devices to be 'authorized' on the same principle as architects. By this means the public can be protected.
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