New Fire Services Support Centres Open in Wan Chai and Yuen Long for Old Building Fire Safety Compliance.

FSD establishes new Building Improvement Support Centres in Wan Chai and Yuen Long

The Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (June 26) that new FSD Building Improvement Support Centres (BISCs) have been established in Wan Chai and Yuen Long respectively to provide more convenient one-stop support services for owners and occupiers of old buildings on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories, assisting people to comply with the requirements under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance (Cap. 502), the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572), and the Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 636) to enhance the fire safety standards of the buildings.

The FSD established its first BISC in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, in December 2023 and the effect has been remarkable. The Kowloon BISC has handled over 14 500 enquiries as of May this year, assisting owners and occupiers of old buildings to understand and comply with the requirements of the relevant ordinances. To further strengthen its services, the new BISCs of the FSD are located in Wan Chai and Yuen Long, which have a higher density of old buildings, and can therefore enable more owners and occupiers to seek assistance in person.

The new BISCs in Wan Chai and Yuen Long will provide one-stop services for owners and occupiers of buildings regulated under the above-mentioned ordinances, which include the explanation of the ordinances' requirements, providing updates on existing government support services, as well as co-ordination of matters relating to building plan approval procedures and acceptance test arrangements, facilitating them in the completion of fire safety improvement works. Exhibition areas displaying the fire service installations and equipment required under the relevant ordinances are also set up in the new BISCs, enabling the public to gain a deeper understanding of the related information.

Members of the public requiring assistance can visit the following BISCs in person or call the hotline on 2272 9112 from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday (except public holidays).

- BISC on Hong Kong Island: 35/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

- BISC in Kowloon: 3/F, FSD Mong Kok Office Building, 42 Tai Kok Tsui Road, Kowloon

- BISC in the New Territories: M/F, Yuen Long Fire Station, 2 Fung Kam Street, Yuen Long, New Territories

FSD establishes new Building Improvement Support Centres in Wan Chai and Yuen Long Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FSD establishes new Building Improvement Support Centres in Wan Chai and Yuen Long Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health concludes visit to Hainan Province

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to continue their visit to Hainan Province today (August 14), touring a local pharmaceutical enterprise and introducing the various measures put forward by the Health Bureau (HHB) to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, such as enhancing a drug evaluation and registration mechanism, as well as advancing clinical trials.

He said, "To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is vigorously promoting the research and development (R&D) and application of biomedicine technologies. Through the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, the Real-World Study and Application Centre, and the upcoming establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year, Hong Kong will also further improve the mechanism for new drug R&D and approval, and provide comprehensive support for innovative drugs, spanning clinical trials, regulation and approval, and inclusion in the public healthcare system."

He also welcomed Mainland pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong, making full use of the unique advantages of the city to facilitate the translation and clinical application of advanced biomedicine technologies in Hong Kong, and leveraging Hong Kong as a platform for bringing innovative drugs to the international markets.

Prior to their departure from Hainan Province, the delegation met with officials of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Hainan Province. Professor Lo briefed them on the latest developments in Hong Kong's healthcare policy areas.

Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan; the Director of the Real-World Study and Application Centre, Professor Cheung Ching-lung; as well as officers of the HHB, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. They concluded the visit and will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Secretary for Health concludes visit to Hainan Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health concludes visit to Hainan Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases