The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
To address the needs of hearing-impaired tenants, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will install a visual fire alarm (VFA) system inside their public rental housing (PRH) flats for free to assist them to notice fire alarms promptly. Hearing-impaired tenants who intend to apply for the installation of the VFA system inside their flats may approach their respective estate offices.
"Since March last year, we have introduced a voluntary scheme to install the VFA system inside PRH flats. We started a trial installation of the VFA system inside a PRH unit earlier and monitored its operation over a period of time. We find it reliable and workable, even during hot weather and in a humid environment. In view of the positive outcome, we are extending the installation of the VFA system inside PRH units for hearing-impaired tenants upon their request and signing of an undertaking for such installation," a spokesman for the HA said today (July 4).
"Our voluntary scheme to install the VFA system inside PRH flats with hearing-impaired tenants is free of charge, subject to technical feasibility. So far, over 40 units at 34 PRH estates have completed installation," the spokesman said.
After installation, once the fire alarm of a building is triggered, the VFA system inside the flat will flash simultaneously to alert hearing-impaired tenants to the fire hazard.
"Since the VFA system for hearing-impaired tenants has to connect to the communal fire service system of the building to effect a simultaneous fire alert, requests from the HA's tenants at estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme or Buy or Rent Option will be processed if the owners' corporation concerned approves such connection," the spokesman added.
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