Hong Kong mandates fire escape hoods in hotels and guest houses to boost safety
Home affairs chief Alice Mak says implementation arrangements to be discussed with sector soon, as authorities give grace period
Hong Kong hotels and guest houses are required to provide fire escape hoods to ensure customer safety, the city’s home affairs minister has said, with authorities giving the sector a one-year grace period.
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen also said on Saturday that the government would discuss implementation arrangements with the sector soon, after some representatives flagged that they had not been consulted before the requirement was introduced.
“We have heard different comments from the hotel and guest house sector ... I am certain that the sector, the public and the government hope to enhance fire safety of premises and safeguard tourists’ safety,” she said.
“As we enhance fire safety, we also have to consider how we are implementing the measure so that the sector can comply with it more easily.
“We will hold a meeting with the sector later to discuss the implementation arrangements and look into how the sector can balance its business operations while – most importantly – ensuring tourist safety.”
Mak’s remarks came a day after Edward Leung Hei, chairman of the Hong Kong Feast and Retreat Association, posted a letter from the Home Affairs Department online.