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Bill to improve fire safety measures in commercial premises
The Government will introduce new legislation to improve fire safety measures in commercial premises, a government spokesman said today (Wednesday).
The Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Bill will be gazetted on Friday (May 17) and is expected to be introduced into the Legislative Council on May 29,
It will cover specific types of commercial premises with a total floor area exceeding 230 square metres.
Such premises include banks, off-course betting centres, jewellery and goldsmith shops, supermarkets, department stores and shopping arcades.
The Director of Fire Services and the Director of Buildings will be able to issue fire safety directions to owners of these premises requiring them to make improvements on fire safety measures in respect of the premises.
"These measures include the provision of fire services installations and equipment, means of escape in the event of fire, means of access for fire fighting and rescue services, and the use of fire resistant materials.
"An owner who fails to comply with the requirement specified in the direction will be guilty of an offence," the spokesman said.
The enforcement authority would, however, apply the fire safety provisions in a flexible manner when there were genuine and practical difficulties in complying with the fire safety measures, he added.
The Government believes that with the enhanced control on fire safety standards in commercial premises, it would reduce the risk to lives and properties of the public and would prevent a similar recurrence of the fire at the Hongkong Bank branch office in Shek Kip Mei on January 10, 1994.
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