Labour Department launches special enforcement operation targeting fire safety in construction sites
The Labour Department (LD)'s spokesman today (November 27) said that the department is highly concerned about the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, yesterday (November 26). The LD is saddened that the fire has caused multiple casualties and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victims' families and the injured persons.
The LD will launch a two-week territory-wide special enforcement operation tomorrow, targeting the fire protection facilities and fire emergency preparedness of building maintenance work sites with large-scale scaffolding erected. This includes checking if protective screens (also known as scaffold nets) are in compliance with recognised standards for fire-retardant materials to ensure work safety. Meanwhile, the LD will also work with the Buildings Department to inspect buildings undergoing major external wall repairs with large-scale bamboo scaffolds erected so as to ensure that scaffold nets installed on the scaffolds comply with the requirements of relevant Code of Practice/Guidance Notes.
If any violations of the legislation are detected during the inspection exercise, occupational safety officers of the LD will take rigorous enforcement actions, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices, and taking out prosecutions without prior warning, in order to deter unsafe operations.
Due to the recent dry weather, the LD strongly urges and warns all contractors that they should take notice of the fire risk of the site, particularly the need to enhance the fire safety of the bamboo scaffold, to ensure relevant materials are in compliance with the fire safety standards and clear up the debris regularly; smoking at site areas is strictly prohibited. While conducting hot work processes (such as welding and flame-cutting which may produce sparks), the safety measures devised from relevant risk assessment should be strictly followed, and sufficient and effective firefighting equipment should be in place. Contractors should further step up fire safety management to prevent fire incidents, ensure the safety of construction sites and workers and avoid recurrence of yesterday's tragic fire in Tai Po .
The LD also appeals to employers to be considerate to employees who are unable to work as usual due to the impact of the Tai Po fire, and to provide flexible work arrangements wherever possible to help them through this difficult period. Employers and employees may call the dedicated hotline 2929 4054 in case of enquiries on employment-related matters.
The Labour Department
New names for tropical cyclones in 2026
The Hong Kong Observatory said today (June 8) that nine new names, Koki, Gaeguri, Dim-sum, Hebi, Tomo, Tirou, Narae, Burapha and Hoaban, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2026 to replace the old names of Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi, Usagi, Yagi, Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon and Trami respectively.
The new names were endorsed at the 58th session of the Typhoon Committee, which is under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization.
The meanings of the nine new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:
Name |
Meaning |
Contributing country/region |
Koki |
The name of a large tree with a hard flesh that is suitable for daily use in Cambodia |
Cambodia |
Gaeguri |
A frog |
Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
Dim-sum |
A famous food in Hong Kong cuisine |
Hong Kong, China |
Hebi |
Serpens; snake |
Japan |
Tomo |
Puppis; stern |
Japan |
Tirou |
A formal and respectful way of greeting in Chuukese culture |
Micronesia |
Narae |
The wing of a bird or an insect |
Republic of Korea |
Burapha |
East |
Thailand |
Hoaban |
It is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, a typical flower of the Northwest mountains of Vietnam, it has a pleasant scent and blooms every spring |
Vietnam |
According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. Typhoon Ewiniar hit the Philippines in late May 2024, causing six deaths and eight injuries. More than 150 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.04 billion. In early September 2024, Super Typhoon Yagi left 21 deaths, 26 missing and 22 injuries in the Philippines during its passage. More than three million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP2.6 billion. Super Typhoon Krathon brought torrential rain to the northern part of the Philippines in late September to early October 2024, resulting in five deaths, one missing and 12 injuries. Over 380 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.5 billion. Typhoon Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey in late October 2024 caused a total of 159 deaths, 22 missing and 132 injuries in the Philippines. More than 9.6 million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP18.4 billion. Typhoon Toraji, Super Typhoon Usagi and Super Typhoon Man-yi hit the Philippines successively in mid-November 2024, causing a total of 14 deaths, two missing, 15 injuries with more than 4.3 million people affected. Economic losses exceeded PHP3.7 billion. Additionally, "Jebi" has been retired due to an inappropriate meaning in other languages.
The latest list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings are available on the Hong Kong Observatory webpage for Tropical Cyclone Names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea with effect from 2026.
Source: AI-found images
