Hong Kong to ramp up crackdown on fire hazards in high-risk old buildings

Special team will carry on work of inspection operation launched in wake of deadly New Lucky House blaze

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The Fire Services Department issued more than 8,500 safety warnings for old mixed-use properties between April and November. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 7:29pm, 16 Dec 2024Updated: 9:39pm, 16 Dec 2024

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department will ramp up its crackdown on hazards in old mixed-use buildings deemed high risk, following the issuing of more than 8,500 safety warnings for the properties between April and November.

Wong Yuk-ping, the department’s acting deputy chief fire officer in building improvement, said on Monday a special team would be set up to carry out the work next year.

“The special duties team will compile our data for a list of old composite buildings deemed high risk for our inspection list. We will then conduct checks targeting these high-risk buildings,” Wong said.

The group will set priorities for inspecting old buildings and conduct ad hoc checks, continuing the efforts of a special enforcement operation in the wake of April’s fatal New Lucky House blaze in Yau Ma Tei.

Wong said data from this year’s inspections showed that “three-nil” buildings and old properties with multiple stairways posed greater fire safety risks regarding escape paths and doors. Stairways that were not frequently used were often blocked in such cases.

He added the new special duties team would focus on such buildings for ad hoc checks next year.