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such, I hope the Chairman of the Select Committee can give a reply on the proposed timetable for upgrading standards if a review is to be conducted. Can this be done in half a year or when can this be done?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): I want to reiterate here, in fact I would like to clarify here that compliance with the current Fire Services Ordinance means not only compliance with the law, but also of a level of safety that I feel is acceptable. As I said, we have two fire service inspection exercises each year and they are conducted by licensed professionals approved by the Fire Services Department. After the inspections, certificates are issued and again submitted to the Fire Services Department for scrutiny. I think in this respect, we comply with fire prevention requirements. It is not true that our 40-odd buildings do not comply with safety requirements or that they pose potential risks. We can of course ask for upgrading of safety standards. I do accept this. We can conduct a review. As for a concrete date of the review, I think a decision should be taken at meetings of the Administration Select Committee. Members of the Select Committee will discuss and decide on an appropriate timetable of progress.
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese): Markets take up a large proportion of our 40-odd low-rise buildings. Do cooked food centres come under the category of markets? In many of our market complexes, the market is on the ground floor and the cooked food centre is upstairs. I think the important point is to give priority attention to fire prevention if the rating of potential risks in respect of market stalls is more serious than that of general facilities.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): In fact, these markets were built in early stages and not necessarily provided with cooked food centres. Cooked food centres are provided in newly built markets. For example, the Wanchai Road Market is a 2-storey one without a cooked food centre. Tung Lung Chau Market which is included in the 40-odd buildings does not have a cooked food centre either. As I said, although these buildings already comply with the Fire Services Ordinance, I am inclined towards a study on potential risks posed. I think even if we want to install sprinkler systems in some old buildings, we may not be able to do so. For example, the Museum of Teaware is situated in a historic building. We may not be able to install a sprinkler system there even if we want to. It is therefore very difficult to find a way to implement an overall plan. Of course, if our study shows that it is feasible to upgrade safety facilities at certain places, we can do so. However, that may not be feasible in each and every old building.
MR. WONG KING-CHEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman. I want to ask about part 2 of the reply. As there is no mandatory requirement at present to improve buildings completed prior to 1973, can we consider taking the lead by setting a timetable to install up-to-date fire prevention facilities in certain buildings before
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such, I hope the Chairman of the Select Committee can give a reply on the proposed timetable for upgrading standards if a review is to be conducted. Can this be done in half a year or when can this be done?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):~1 want to reiterate here, in fact I would like to clarify here that compliance with the current Fire Services Ordinance means not only compliance with the law, but also of a level of safety that I feel is acceptable. As I said, we have two fire service inspection exercises each year and they are conducted by licensed professionals approved by the Fire Services Department. After the inspections, certificates are issued and again submitted to the Fire Services Department for scrutiny. I think in this respect, we comply with fire prevention requirements. It is not true that our 40- odd buildings do not comply with safety requirements or that they pose potential risks. We can of course ask for upgrading of safety standards. I do accept this. We can conduct a review. As for a concrcte date of the review, I think a decision should be taken at meetings of the Administration Select Committee. Members of the Select Committee will discuss and decide on an appropriate timetable of progress.
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonesc):—Markets take up a large proportion of our 40-odd low rise buildings. Do cooked food centres come under the category of markets? In many of our market complexes, the market is on the ground floor and the cooked food centre is upstairs. I think the important point is to give priority attention to fire prevention if the rating of potential risks in respect of market stalls is more serious than that of general facilities.
Mr. Suen Kai-cheong (in Cantonese):—In fact, these markets were built in early stages and not necessarily provided with cooked food centres. Cooked food centres are provided in newly built markets. For example, the Wanchai Road Market is a 2 storey one without a cooked food centre. Tang Lung Chau Market which is included in the 40-odd buildings does not have a cooked food centre either. As I said, although these buildings already comply with the Fire Services Ordinance, I am inclined towards a study on potential risks posed. I think even if we want to install sprinkler systems in some old buildings, we may not be able to do so. For example, the Museum of Teaware is situated in a historic building. We may not be able to install a sprinkler system there even if we want to. It is therefore very difficult to find a way to implement an overall plan. Of course, if our study shows that it is feasible to upgrade safety facilities at certain places, we can do so. However, that may not be feasible in each and every old building.
MR. WONG KING-CHEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman. I want to ask about part 2 of the reply. As there is no mandatory requirement at present to improve buildings completed prior to 1973, can we consider taking the lead by setting a timetable to install up-to-date fire prevention facilities in certain buildings before
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Page 271 of 498
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