Hong Kong Fire Services Department Conducts Special Inspection of Old Buildings, Over 90% Rectified

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department conducted a two-month special inspection of fire facilities in over 1,500 old buildings starting January 19. They found fire alarm damage in 53 buildings and noted expired annual inspections in many. Over 2,500 rectification orders were issued, with more than 90% completed.

Thu May 21 2026

Fire Services Department's Special Inspection Findings and Issues

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department conducted a special inspection of fire facilities in over 1,500 old buildings for two months, starting on January 19. The inspection revealed various degrees of damage to fire alarm systems in 53 buildings, and many fire facilities had overdue annual inspections. The Fire Services Department issued a total of 2,500 rectification notices for the violations found during the inspection, with over 90% of them already complied with.

Senior Divisional Officer for Policy, Lai Kin Sam, stated that many buildings which had no issues before the inspection showed defects during the process. He noted, "Many buildings had no violations before our inspection, but we found problems with their alarm systems during the check." He also added that in some cases, annual inspections were not conducted, making it impossible to know if facilities were malfunctioning. Furthermore, some facilities developed problems shortly after their most recent annual inspection. The Fire Services Department plans to investigate the professionalism of the contractors in such instances.

Future Plans and Enhanced Safety Awareness

The inspection focused on whether annual inspections met standards, the functionality of fire alarm systems and fire hose reel systems, and whether fire water pipes conformed to specifications. The Fire Services Department also checked if procedures for notifying residents about system shutdowns were followed. The department plans to establish a 20-person team of firefighters to inspect 5,000 target buildings within two years, prioritizing old buildings with subdivided units and those currently undergoing renovation. The aim is to enhance the safety awareness of building owners and residents through these efforts.

*Source: YouTube: RTHK (2026-05-21)*

Tags: #Hong Kong #fire safety #building safety #special inspection #safety check