burned and had been taken to Sheung Shui Clinic by the owner of the ground floor shop before the arrival of the Fire Service. This boy also subsequently died in hospital, bringing the death roll to 9.
158. Post fire investigations revealed circumstances and factors which appeared to be inconsistent with the normal pattern and develop- ment of book shop/stationery shop fires. Moreover, kerosene soaked articles were found in the debris together with 2 partly filled kerosene tins. In consequence, a judicial fire investigation was held. In his findings the Magistrate held that the fire had been feloniously started and that he suspected that the owner of the shop in which the fire originated was the responsible person. He also stated that the Fire Service had done everything in their power to rescue occupants and control the fire.
159. The shop owner was subsequently charged with 2 counts of murder (the 2 young employees) and 1 count of arson with intent to defraud. At committal proceedings at the North Kowloon Court, the Magistrate found that the owner of the book shop had a prima facie case to answer on the 3 counts as charged, and he has been committed to stand trial at the next session of the Supreme Court.
5th Alarm-582-592, Nathan Road, Kowloon, 14.3.66.
160. The pre-determined first attendance for this district reached this incident within 5 minutes of the time of call, and the officer in charge thereof, finding the ground floor well alight and dense volumes of smoke belching from upper floors, raised the magnitude of the call to 4th alarm category at 23.53 hours (1.c. 8 minutes after the time of call).
161. 582-592, Nathan Road consist of 6 houses approximately 100 ft. by 80 ft. in a range of 6 storey reinforced concrete buildings and occupied by a Chinese products emporium.
162. All normal points of entry into the building were effectively obstructed by substantial iron gates and/or grills. Staircases which normally gave directly on to the street had been either removed or resited so that they terminated inside the premises.
163. Whilst rescue teams were attempting to penetrate all upper floors and fire fighting crews were striving to gain access into the ground floor, the fire was spreading rapidly and was raised to 5th alarm magnitude at 00.01 hours on 15th March, 1966. By this time the 1st and 2nd floors were approaching flash-over point. By 00.20 hours
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