Reply:
(b)
(c)
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the breakdown of the respective numbers of private residential care homes situated in locations which are not permitted under Part VI of the Regulation, including any part of an industrial building or any premises located immediately above or below any godown, cinema, theatre or premises wherein any trade is carried on and which, in the opinion of the Director of Social Welfare, may pose a risk to the life or safety of the residents; and how it will handle residential care homes situated in such locations; and
the estimated number of beds which will be affected as a result of the private residential care homes failing to meet the specified requirements on account of the problems referred to in (a) and (b) above; and whether it can ensure that there will be sufficient beds to house the elderly persons who have to move out because of such problems?
The reply is as follows:
(a)
(b)
The Social Welfare Department has so far identified over 130 private residential care homes operating in non-domestic buildings. These homes will need to be inspected by both the Social Welfare and Buildings Departments who will need to satisfy themselves on a case by case basis whether there exist any problems which constitute a real threat to the health and safety of the residents. If there are none, then the Social Welfare Department will issue an exemption under the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Regulation and the Buildings Department will exercise its discretion, as provided for under the Buildings Ordinance, not to prohibit the continued use of the premises for a residential home, notwithstanding the fact of their location in a non-domestic building;
No private residential care home has been found to be situated in an industrial building, or near to any godown, cinema or theatre. However, some homes are in premises which pose risks to the safety of the residents due to one or more of the following reasons:
1
emergency vehicle access not available;
location immediately above or below or adjacent to a trade with a high fire potential;