Two co-owners were convicted and each fined $18,530 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on May 28 for failing to comply with a fire safety direction issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572).
The Buildings Department (BD) issued a fire safety direction under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to two co-owners of a domestic flat in a 54-year-old composite building in Tai Po, requiring the owners to comply with fire safety construction requirements by providing a fire-rated door and removing the metal gate at the unit entrance, which opens directly to a staircase.
Failing to comply with the statutory direction, the two owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted and fined by the courts.
"According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner", a spokesman for the BD said today (June 17).
Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.
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