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SHA visits victims of Tsuen Wan fire
The Government will do its best to make temporary accommodation arrangements for the bedspace apartment lodgers affected by the Yeung Uk Road fire, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen said today (Saturday).
Speaking to the media after visiting the lodgers at the Princess Alexandra lodgers' Community Centre, Mr Suen said the Government would assist with rehousing and the arrangements would depend on the results of the survey by the Buildings Department regarding the conditions of the premises.
He pointed out that Police had classified the case as homicide, arson and wounding, and the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident might be different from other incidents of fire.
Nevertheless, he said, the Government has been very concerned about the fire and building safety as well as sanitation standards of bedspace apartments and legislation was enacted last year to provide for a licensing scheme to regulate such premises.
Mr Suen noted that 150 known bedspace apartments had been registered for temporary licences and staff of the licensing authority had conducted initial inspections to work out the improvement measures required to meet the standard in the law. Fire prevention leaflets have also been distributed to residents during these visits.
He stressed that there was a tight programme of implementation for the licensing scheme and follow-up work would proceed vigorously.
Mr Suen and the Director of Home Affairs, Mr Joseph W. P. Wong later went to the scene of the blaze to see for themselves the conditions of the building.
End/Saturday, March 25, 1995
Employment agencies warned against unlicensed operation
Employment agencies should not operate without a licence, neither should they overcharge job applicants upon successful placement.
"Employment agencies must obtain a licence from the Labour Department at least one month before starting business," Labour Officer (Employment Agencies Administration) Miss Corrina Cheng said today (Saturday).