XN000022-1997-01-08 — Page 16

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Initiatives to step up fire safety measures in high-risk premises

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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, at the motion debate on "Comprehensive review of fire safety measures" in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

The views expressed by Honourable Members in this debate clearly reflected the community's strong concern on adequate fire safety measures. The Government shares the same concern. There are clearly lessons to be learnt from the Garley Building tragedy.

The two investigation reports completed by the Director of Fire Services two weeks after the incident concerned the cause of the fire and the reason why so many people died and were injured. A statutory Commission of Inquiry with a comprehensive remit has also been set up to inquire into the causes of the fire, to advise on the adequacy and co-ordination of the response of the emergency services to the fire, and to make recommendations on actions needed to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. Meanwhile, specific investigations are being carried out by concerned departments. The Buildings Department, Labour Department and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department investigations are near the final stage of completion. Police investigations into the cause and circumstances connected to the deaths which occurred during the fire are continuing.

Relevant government departments briefed the LegCo Panel on Security and the LegCo Panel on Planning, Lands and Works on 16 December 1996 on the findings and recommendations of the investigation reports by the Fire Services Department. The government has accepted all the 13 recommendations in the reports by the Fire Services Department. We are indeed already pursuing some of these recommendations. We will review progress by various government departments within three months. By that time, we would be able to submit a progress report on the follow up actions to the relevant panel of this Council.

In the meantime, we are undertaking a number of initiatives to step up publicity and enforcement, and legislation for up-to-date fire safety measures in high-risk premises.