Letters | Hong Kong should build a lasting foundation for stronger fire safety
Readers discuss ways to enhance an inspection operation, the survival of cinemas, and the plight of subdivided-flat tenants
In focusing on older residential and mixed-use buildings first planned in or before 1987 and conducting surprise inspections of critical installations such as fire alarm and hose reel systems, the operation is both practical and well targeted. The strict verification of annual inspection certificates (FS 251) also sends a clear message to owners’ corporations, property managers and contractors: having fire service installations in place does not automatically mean they are reliable; maintenance, testing and accountability must be demonstrably upheld.
I also welcome the department’s measures: requiring standardised damage notices to be displayed prominently when installations are defective, and requiring prior risk assessment and notification before any shutdown of fire installations for maintenance and other works. These steps improve transparency and would help residents make better decisions in an emergency, avoiding dangerous reliance on failed equipment.
To ensure short-term enforcement translates into sustained public confidence, I propose four refinements. First, establish a consistent inspection checklist or framework that goes beyond certificate-based compliance to include functional test records, repair turnaround times and replacement logs.
Second, adopt a risk-based inspection strategy after the two months, prioritising “three-nil” buildings lacking an owners’ corporation, a residents’ organisation or property management, and buildings with prior non-compliance history.