Security chief vows revamp of fire department after report censures lax inspections

Hong Kong's security chief has pledged to enact stricter rules against unauthorized shutdowns of fire safety systems and revamp the Fire Services Department (FSD) following a critical report on lax inspections. The independent committee, which investigated the 2022 Wang Fuk Court fire, found that the FSD had relied on a "passive, paper-driven" audit system and received notices that the estate's fire hydrant and hosepipe reel system had been taken offline for maintenance.

However, the officers only conducted "cursory initial visits" and verified these reports verbally rather than physically inspecting the installations themselves.

The report stated that while the FSD's firefighters showed heroism during the firefighting and rescue efforts, they failed to fulfill their supervisory duties. To address this, the security chief proposed a statutory pre-approval system that would replace the current notification system, which has been "gravely abused" in the past.

Under the new system, electronic inspections with the help of AI would be mandatory, and deactivation of fire safety installations for over 60 days or falsified applications would lead to enforcement action. The department would also increase the frequency of inspections and require fire contractors' licenses to be reviewed every five years, with violators potentially having their permits suspended.

Additionally, the department would establish a Major Fire Prevention and Control Command within it to formulate contingency plans for high-risk scenarios, monitor and control fire risks in buildings undergoing major renovations, and coordinate technological measures for fire safety. The FSD would also adopt AI and robotics to boost its firefighting capabilities and complaint handling system.

The committee criticized the FSD for limiting its focus to active fire service installations and failing to establish a sense of crisis. The department had argued that passive fire safety installations, such as emergency staircases, fell under the Buildings Department's jurisdiction, creating a gap in responsibility. The committee acknowledged that reducing reliance on bamboo scaffolding, which contributed significantly to the intensity and spread of the fire, was complex.

Instead, they recommended transitioning to metal scaffolding systems and fire-rated fibreglass mesh, while also establishing a strategic task force with industry stakeholders to address this issue.