XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

HE WELCOMED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WHICH WOULD REDUCE EVEN MORE THE RISKS AND DANGERS OF FIRE OCCURRING IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS. THESE MEASURES SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

IN PARTICULAR, MR CHEONG-LEEN FELT THAT THE PRACTICES OF LOCKING UP FIRE EXITS AND OBSTRUCTING ROUTES OF FIRE ESCAPES WITHIN A BUILDING SHOULD BE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED, AND HE SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL THAT THESE PRACTICES BE MADE ILLEGAL.

FIRE SAFETY CAMPAIGN ADVOCATED

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHOULD LAUNCH A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY, ESPECIALLY IN FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, AS A FOLLOW-UP TO PASSING OF THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1986, HON NGAI SHIU-KIT SUGGESTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR NGAI SAID THE TOUGHER PENALTIES PROPOSED WOULD DETER RECKLESS PEOPLE FROM ALLOWING DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARDS TO EXIST IN BUILDINGS.

BUT TOUGHER LEGISLATION ALONE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH FIRE HAZARDS, WHICH HAD BECOME A CHRONIC PROBLEM.

+ IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF-DISCIPLINE AMONG THE PUBLIC THROUGH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION,+ HE STRESSED.

MR NGAI SAID SOME AREAS OF THE BILL REQUIRED SPECIAL ATTENTION.

NOTING THAT THE BILL EXTENDED THE DEFINITION OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR FIRE HAZARDS TO INCLUDE THE OWNER, TENANT OCCUPIER OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE PREMISES, HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS QUITE COMMON FOR THE OWNER OF A FLAT NOT TO RESIDE OR OPERATE A BUSINESS THERE, AND HENCE WOULD HARDLY KNEW OF FIRE HAZARDS CREATED BY THE OCCUPIERS OR TENANTS.

+ IT WILL BE UNFAIR TO HOLD HIM SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OFFENCES HE IS NOT EVEN AWARE OF,+ MR NGAI SAID.

HE URGED THAT FIRE SERVICES STAFF SHOULD EXERCISE DUE DISCRETION WHEN REQUIRING ANY PERSON TO PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH THE REAL CULPRIT,

REGARDING THE