Owners' corporation fined over $8,000 for failing to comply with fire safety direction
An owners' corporation (OC) was convicted and fined $8,780 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts last week 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 the OC of a 57-year-old composite building at Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, requiring the OC to comply with certain fire safety construction requirements which include providing fire-rated enclosures to non-emergency services in the escape staircase, replacing windows of the escape staircase with fire-rated fixed lights, and reinstating the fire-rated door of the escape staircase at roof.
Failing to comply with the statutory direction, the OC was prosecuted by the BD and was convicted and fined by the court on May 9.
"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 under the Ordinance", a spokesman for the BD said today (May 18).
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.
Ends/Thursday, May 18, 2023