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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
FIRE SAFETY AT THA'S, RENTAL UNITS SATISFACTORY
FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ANNUAL CHECKS BY A REGISTERED CONTRACTOR.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FIRE SERVICES { INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT) REGULATIONS OF THE FIRE SERVICE ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION, MR LIAO SAID, THERE WERE FREQUENT INSPECTIONS BY MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT CONTINUED TO BE SERVICEABLE.
"THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE PROVED TO BE SATISFACTORY," HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR LIAO DID CONCEDE THAT A PROBLEM HAD ARISEN RECENTLY IN A FIRE WHICH OCCURRED AT YICK YUEN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN YUEN LONG LAST DECEMBER.
"IN THIS CASE, A FAULT IN AN AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL SWITCH AFFECTED THE OPERATION OF A FIRE PUMP AND A FIRE ALARM.
"THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THE SWITCH HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED," HE SAID.
MR LIAO ALSO EMPHASISED THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AGREED WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF THE CLEARANCE OF FIRE SITES.
"ONCE A FIRE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, TEMPORARY BARRIERS TO PREVENT UNAUTHORISED ENTRY ARE ERECTED AROUND THE SITE IMMEDIATELY, WITH MORE SUBSTANTIAL HOARDINGS PROVIDED WITHIN 10 DAYS.
"MOREOVER, THE SITE IS KEPT DAMP BY SPRAYING WATER, AND CLEARANCE IS ARRANGED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, NORMALLY WITHIN 14 DAYS," HE SAID.
AND IN CASE ASBESTOS DEBRIS WAS FOUND, AN CONTRACTOR WOULD BE ENGAGED TO HANDLE ITS REMOVAL.
APPROVED
SPECIALIST
SATISFACTORY
MR LIAO DESCRIBED THESE MEASURES AS HAVING PROVED IN KEEPING THE PUBLIC AWAY FROM FIRE SITES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE AREAS HAD BEEN CLEARED.
"IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE IN PUBLIC RENTAL UNITS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL LOCK UP OR SEAL OFF THE AFFECTED UNITS AS APPROPRIATE UNTIL REPAIRS ARE CARRIED OUT," HE ADDED.
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