Secretary for Security says FSD's 999 hotlines increased to 48

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said the number of Fire Services Department's 999 hotline has increased to 48 lines, and will exceed 100 lines by early next year.

He also said the Fire Services Department has a "last resort" responsibility for building fire safety.

The Wang Fuk Court hearing revealed that the number of Fire Services Department's 999 hotlines is insufficient and unable to handle all residents' requests for assistance.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said the department has increased the hotline to 48 lines to date, and will increase to 70 lines in the next three months. After updating the command system early next year, it will further increase to 100 lines.

When asked if further increases were needed, Tang said:

“In reality, the fire department doesn't need as many lines as the police force; everyone faces different situations. Why were there 30 lines in the past? Because for a period of time, 30 lines were sufficient, so there was no need to increase them. Of course, this incident revealed that there are situations where they are insufficient, so we felt there was a need to increase them immediately.

We need to balance resources and needs; we feel that 100 lines are sufficient.

The hearing also revealed unclear responsibilities for building fire safety.

The Fire Services Department's initial claimed that items such as polystyrene window sealing and back staircase exits involve building structure are considered "passive" fire protection devices, which should be the responsibility of the Buildings Department.

Tang said the fire department has a "last resort" responsibility.

Tang said: “If there is an "opening" in the staircase, which department is responsible for handling it? This is the Buildings Department's responsibility, and the law clearly states this.

My colleagues might think it's none of their business and that you should contact whichever department you want. However, we feel this is not ideal, as it ultimately relates to fire safety. Our "last resort" responsibility means that if we discover these situations, even if they are unrelated to the department, we will first refer the case, and then follow up. Follow-up involves checking for any fire hazards or issues that need to be addressed. This is crucial.