Contractors must justify shutdowns under tighter scrutiny, fire chief tells Tai Po probe – as it happened

Hong Kong fire chief tells inquiry contractors must prove need for shutdowns as scrutiny tightens after deadly blaze. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Contractors must justify shutdowns under tighter scrutiny, fire chief tells Tai Po probe – as it happened

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The director of Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department told an independent investigation on Friday that contractors will face stricter requirements to justify any shutdown of fire safety systems, as the city grapples with the aftermath of its deadliest fire in decades. Andy Yeung Yan-kin, the most senior official to appear before the investigating committee so far, testified on the 19th day of evidential hearings into the blaze that killed multiple people and raised urgent questions about building safety protocols. Yeung’s testimony focused on the department’s oversight of fire prevention measures and the circumstances under which critical equipment might be taken offline during construction or maintenance work. The hearings, which have drawn intense public attention, are examining systemic failures that may have contributed to the fire’s catastrophic toll. Witnesses earlier in the proceedings described confusion among building management and delays in activating alarms. The fire chief’s appearance marks a pivotal moment, as the committee seeks to determine whether regulatory gaps or enforcement lapses allowed the tragedy to unfold. Yeung emphasized that contractors must now provide detailed justifications for any planned shutdown of fire services, including sprinklers, alarms, or smoke extraction systems, and that such requests would face heightened scrutiny from his department. Background testimony has revealed that in the weeks before the fire, some safety systems in the affected building were reportedly disabled or under maintenance, though the exact sequence of events remains under investigation. The committee has heard accounts from residents and safety officers who raised concerns about inadequate fire drills and blocked exits. Yeung’s remarks suggest a shift toward more rigorous enforcement, with the Fire Services Department moving to close potential loopholes that allowed contractors to deactivate equipment without sufficient oversight. He indicated that new guidelines would be issued to clarify the approval process and ensure that alternative safety measures are in place during any temporary shutdowns. The significance of Yeung’s testimony extends...

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Categoria: cronaca