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mentioned in my reply to part 1 of the question, that apart from the City Hall High Block and the place where we hold meetings which are, comparatively speaking, high rise blocks, the rest of our 40-odd buildings are 2 or 3 storey ones. These buildings include facilities like our markets, swimming pools etc. They are low rise buildings where installation of sprinkler systems are not required in accordance with the existing law.
As to why I am satisfied that they comply with safety requirements, the Department commissions a professional fire installation contractor approved by the Fire Services Department to conduct 2 inspections annually under the supervision of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. A certificate is issued after the inspection and submitted to the Fire Services Department for approval. Our fire prevention facilities are up to standard. As such, one can see that we do monitor, inspect and carry out repairs. What I mean is that our existing facilities comply with requirements of the law.
Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, my concern is that the High and Low Blocks of the City Hall including the existing Urban Council Chambers are all buildings of the sixties. I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee if there are any practical remedial measures to be taken. Apart from complying with the law, what kind of remedial measures are there in respect of fire prevention systems? Will the Department study and review the whole set of fire prevention systems, particularly that in the Urban Council Chambers?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Given that compliance with the existing law is a prerequisite, I certainly agree to look into the level of potential risk in these 40-odd buildings. I have in hand information on the types of fire prevention facilities currently installed in these 40-odd buildings and I shall provide members with copies after the meeting. As I said, the existing fire prevention facilities, including those installed in 1 to 2 storey markets and swimming pools, are those approved by the Fire Services Department. As to whether there is a need to install additional sprinkler systems and what kind of potential risks are involved, I am prepared to ask the Department to conduct a review. Of course, I am in favour of a review in respect of the City Hall High Block and the Urban Council Chambers. Although facilities there comply with the Fire Services Ordinance, we can review them to see whether the potential risks, if any, are acceptable.
MR. STANLEY NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese):—The Chairman of the Select Committee just referred to compliance with the Fire Services Ordinance. As the law does not carry retrospective effect, the Ordinance does not require buildings previously completed to comply with new standards as amended. I have heard about the facilities in places where a lot of people gather, like the City Hall and markets and how these comply with the law, however, they do not comply with the standards required as stipulated in the up-to-date version of the Ordinance. As
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mentioned in my reply to part 1 of the question, that apart from the City Hall High Block and the place where we hold meetings which are, comparatively speaking, high rise blocks, the rest of our 40-odd buildings are 2 or 3 storey ones. These buildings include facilities like our markets, swimming pools etc. They are low rise buildings where installation of sprinkler systems are not required in accordance with the existing law.
As to why I am satisfied that they comply with safety requirements, the Department commissions a professional fire installation contractor approved by the Fire Services Department to conduct 2 inspections annually under the supervision of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. A certificate is issued after the inspection and submitted to the Fire Services Department for approval. Our fire prevention facilities are up to standard. As such, one can see that we do monitor, inspect and carry out repairs. What I mean is that our existing facilities comply with requirements of the law.
Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, my concern is that the High and Low Blocks of the City Hall including the existing Urban Council Chambers are all buildings of the sixties. I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee if there are any practical remedial measures to be taken. Apart from complying with the law, what kind of remedial measures are there in respect of fire prevention systems? Will the Department study and review the whole set of fire prevention systems, particularly that in the Urban Council Chambers?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Given that compliance with the existing law is a prerequisite, I certainly agree to look into the level of potential risk in these 40-odd buildings. I have in hand information on the types of fire prevention facilities currently installed in these 40-odd buildings and I shall provide members with copies after the meeting. As I said, the existing fire prevention facilities, including those installed in 1 to 2 storey markets and swimming pools, are those approved by the Fire Services Department. As to whether there is a need to install additional sprinkler systems and what kind of potential risks are involved, I am prepared to ask the Department to conduct a review. Of course, I am in favour of a review in respect of the City Hall High Block and the Urban Council Chambers. Although facilities there comply with the Fire Services Ordinance, we can review them to see whether the potential risks, if any, are acceptable.
MR. STANLEY NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese):—The Chairman of the Select Committee just referred to compliance with the Fire Services Ordinance. As the law does not carry retrospective effect, the Ordinance does not require buildings previously completed to comply with new standards as amended. I have heard about the facilities in places where a lot of people gather, like the City Hall and markets and how these comply with the law, however, they do not comply with the standards required as stipulated in the up-to-date version of the Ordinance. As
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