Property owner fined about $40,000 for failing to comply with fire safety direction
The sole owner of a building was convicted and fined about $40,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts last month 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(1)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to the owner of a 58-year-old composite building at Ha Heung Road, To Kwa Wan, requiring the owner to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing fire rated doors at certain unit entrances/exits.
Failing to comply with the statutory direction, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $37,175 by the court upon conviction on November 22.
"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 (December 31).
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/Saturday, December 31, 2022