XN000022-1975-02-28 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1975

STIFFER FINES PROPOSED FOR FIRE HAZARD OFFENCES

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PEOPLE FAILING TO COMPLY WITH A FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT ORDER WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME MAY BE FINED $2,000, DOUBLE THE EXISTING AMOUNT, UNDER PROPOSED NEW LEGISLATION PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE.

THEY ARE ALSO LIABLE TO A FINE OF $40, INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT $20, FOR EACH DAY DURING WHICH THE OFFENCE CONTINUES,

THE HIGHER FINES ARE CONTAINED IN THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH TIGHTENS UP SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND UPDATES THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.

THE BILL ALSO DOUBLES FROM $2,000 TO $4,000 THE FINE FOR CONTRAVENING A FIRE HAZARD ORDER.

AND FOR EACH DAY THE OFFENCE CONTINUES THE FINE WILL BE $100, DOUBLE THE EXISTING AMOUNT.

THE DEFINITION OF +FIRE HAZARD IS AMENDED TO MAKE PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THOSE WHICH ARISE FROM IMPROPER USE OF MEANS OF EXITS FROM BUILDINGS, SUCH AS STAIRWAYS.

FIRE HAZARDS SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE ARE: ALTERING A BUILDING IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OVER-CROWDING PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT OR ASSEMBLY REMOVING FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS OR EQUIPMENT FROM A BUILDING OR HAVING IN A BUILDING SUCH INSTALLATIONS OR EQUIPMENT WHICH ARE NOT IN EFFICIENT WORKING ORDER- AND INADEQUATE MEANS OF EXIT FROM ANY PREMISES IN A BUILDING TO STREET LEVEL OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, OR USING SUCH MEANS OF EXIT FOR A PURPOSE WHICH INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE OR CALAMITY, OR THE DANGER TO LIFE OR PROPERTY RESULTING FROM FIRE OR CALAMITY OR WHICH WOULD HAMPER THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN DISCHARGING ITS DUTIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT BLOCKING OF STAIRWAYS HAS BEEN TOO PREVALENT AN OFFENCE IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY IN INDUSTRIAL PREMISES WHERE STAIRWAYS ARE OFTEN REGARDED SOLELY AS CONVENIENT STORAGE AREAS.

+IN THE PAST, HE SAID, +LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ESCAPE FROM A FIRE AS EXITS AND STAIRWAYS HAVE BEEN OBSTRUCTED. IT IS HOPED THAT THE NEW LEVEL OF, FINE WILL DETER PEOPLE IN FUTURE FROM THIS PRACTICE BOTH IN RESPECT OF INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.+

UNDER THE BILL, PROPERTY REMOVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES WHEN ABATING A FIRE HAZARD MAY BE SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION AND THE PROCEEDS USED TO COVER EXPENSES INCURRED. ANY SURPLUS MAY BE PAID TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IF HE APPLIES WITHIN 12 MONTHS, OR ELSE IT WILL BE PAID INTO GENERAL REVENUE. NO TIME LIMIT IS SPECIFIED AT PRESENT.

/THE FINE