Hong Kong authorities have launched a two-month operation to inspect fire safety equipment in residential and mixed-use buildings that are aged 39 years or older, in a continuing effort to strengthen oversight in the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po blaze.
Law Kin-san, divisional officer for policy at the Fire Services Department, said on Monday that the department had started a two-month operation involving ad hoc checks on the inspection record and condition of fire safety equipment in those buildings erected in 1987 or earlier.
“When choosing buildings to inspect, we will mainly pick those with records that show that they did not conduct their annual fire safety checks during the past 15 months as required by the law,” he said.
The new round of inspections is part of ongoing efforts by the department to strengthen oversight after the fire in Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents in November last year.
Law said around 1,500 buildings would be inspected in the latest operation, with a focus on fire alarm and hose reel systems. Officers would choose buildings that had previously missed required annual checks on fire safety equipment, or which had reported damages or shutdowns in such equipment.
Law explained that fire safety equipment providers were required to notify authorities if any equipment had to be turned off for more than 24 hours or overnight due to damage, or to conduct other repair work.
