Fire safety alert: buildings department on high alert following incident at new lucky house in jordan
âThe Buildings Department (BD) is highly concerned about the fire incident in New Lucky House in Jordan on April 10. The BD deployed its officers to the scene in the morning and, with the assistance of the officers of the Fire Services Department (FSD), entered the common areas and some private units of the building at around 2pm to conduct an inspection. The BD officers found that some structures were damaged by the fire, but there was no obvious danger to the overall structure of the building. The BD will fully co-operate with the FSD in its investigation. If the fire is found to be related to a breach of the Buildings Ordinance, the BD will, based on the investigation result, take enforcement action against the persons involved, including instigating criminal prosecution.
The subject building is 60 years old. The BD issued a statutory notice under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme to the owners' corporation (OC) in respect of the common parts of the building in 2018.The OC appointed a registered inspector (RI) in October 2019 and notified the BD again in April 2023 that it had appointed another RI. This RI submitted a prescribed inspection report to the BD in May 2023 and recommended that prescribed repair works would be required, including the replacement of fire doors, provision of protected lobbies for escape staircase and improvement works required under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572). The building in question was under the previous action strategy one of the some 1 800 buildings for which RIs had been appointed, and the RI concerned had informed the BD of the real progress. The RI concerned is now preparing tender documents for the repair works and will discuss with the OC on the tendering for a contractor. The BD will continue to follow up with the OC and urge for their commencement of repair works as soon as possible. The BD will also consider taking enforcement action if necessary.
In addition, the BD issued a Fire Safety Direction to the OC in 2008, requiring the upgrading of certain fire safety provisions of the building to a level in line with the current fire safety standards, including the replacement of fire doors, provision of fire resisting enclosures to non-emergency services and provision of fixed lights meeting the required fire resistance and the like. The OC had appointed a consultant to follow up on the Direction in 2015 and 2020 respectively. The BD also followed up with the progress and issued an advisory letter urging for compliance but the Direction is still not complied with. Noting from the above-mentioned prescribed inspection report submitted by the RI concerned, that the repair proposal will also cover the improvement works required by the Direction, the BD will continue to follow up with the OC and its consultant with a view to closely monitoring the progress of the required fire safety improvement works.
Regarding the unauthorised building works (UBWs), the BD received a total of seven reports concerning subdivided flats in the building in the past three years. Five of the cases did not have actionable UBWs under the prevailing policy against UBWs, while actionable UBWs were found in the other two cases (1/F and 2/F premises not involved). The BD issued removal orders to the relevant owners on March 19, 2024, requiring them to reinstate the fire resisting door at the main entrance of the premises and the fire compartment wall of the premises respectively. If the removal orders are not complied with before the deadline, the BD will take appropriate follow-up actions, including considering initiating prosecution against the owners concerned.
The BD urged members of the public to take building maintenance matter seriously and comply with all statutory orders so as to ensure building safety.
Exploring the impact of ai on hong kong's financial industry: insights from sfst at zhongguancun forum
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum Fintech Parallel Forum in Beijing today (April 29).
Mr Hui also called on the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, on the same day. Mr Hui reported to Director Xia on the latest developments and the way forward for Hong Kong financial market and key areas of work under the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), which include offshore Renminbi businesses, securities, asset and wealth management, fintech and green finance. Director Xia fully recognised the work of the FSTB.He said that the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee will give full support to Hong Kong in pursuing economic growth and advancing development. He hoped that the HKSAR Government will publicise, leverage and make good use of its unique edges and roles, so as to attract more enterprises and talents to develop in Hong Kong.
Mr Hui expressed his gratitude for Director Xia's encouragement. Mr Hui was especially grateful for the country's announcement on April 19 about a series of measures to further expand the mutual access between the capital markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong. He also looked forward to liaising closely with the relevant Mainland ministries and institutions to implement the measures as early as possible, with an aim to jointly contribute to the country's development as a financial powerhouse and high-quality financial development.
Mr Hui delivered a keynote speech on how Hong Kong's financial sector addresses the opportunities and challenges brought by artificial intelligence (AI) at the Parallel Forum this morning. Developing AI has become a major global trend. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, should certainly look into its impact on the financial industry. In this regard, Mr Hui shared his three judgements.
Mr Hui said, "Firstly, as a data-driven industry, the financial sector is suitable for embracing AI to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness significantly. Secondly, AI is like a double-edged sword, and improper use can bring considerable risks. Thirdly, as AI will become more and more prevalent, the amount of investment it attracts in the future will continue to increase, creating new businesses that will revamp the industry ecosystem."
"Being an international financial centre, Hong Kong's financial market is open and inclusive towards the application of AI. We are committed to building a healthy and sustainable market environment, encouraging the financial sector to seize the opportunities brought by AI, and at the same time, safeguarding the overall financial security with responsible use of AI," Mr Hui added.
Mr Hui said that the HKSAR Government will issue a policy statement later this year, setting out its policy stance and approach on the application of AI in the financial market. He also looked forward to maintaining close exchanges and co-operation between Beijing and Hong Kong in the areas of AI and digital economy in the future, as well as exploring new development opportunities together.
Organised by the Haidian District People's Government, the Xicheng District People's Government, the Asian Financial Cooperation Association, and Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance, the Parallel Forum invites guests to discuss the prospects of integrated development of digital finance and AI under the theme "AI for Digital Finance Development". At the Parallel Forum, those joining Mr Hui to deliver keynote speeches included the Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences of 2001, Professor Michael Spence; academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor of the Department of Computer Science and Technology of Tsinghua University, Professor Zhang Bo; and former vice-president of the Renmin University of China Professor Wu Xiaoqiu.
Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (April 30). Before concluding his visit to Beijing, Mr Hui will meet with the leadership of the China Development Bank and the Bank of China.
SFST elaborates on opportunities and challenges brought by AI to Hong Kong's financial industry at Zhongguancun Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST elaborates on opportunities and challenges brought by AI to Hong Kong's financial industry at Zhongguancun Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
