Hundreds of supermarkets, shops and banks will be told this week to upgrade their fire-fighting facilities.
The Housing Department is worried that the move, which it estimates could cost $43 million to carry out, might force some tenants to vacate their premises and is looking for ways to lessen the burden on them.
About 400 businesses in 11 shopping arcades in housing estates and home ownership scheme estates were found to be without sprinkler systems and emergency lighting or with poor access in checks carried out by the Fire Services Department over the past few months.
Banks, supermarkets, shopping arcade, off-course betting centres and goldsmith and jewellery shops have to upgrade fire safety standards under a law enacted in May.
The legislation was introduced following the death of 13 people in a fire at a Hongkong Bank branch in Shekkipmei Estate in 1995.
Senior building services engineer of the Housing Department Ho Wing-yip admitted that compliance could prove difficult for some tenants.
'Some might have to pull down the ceiling for the sprinkler system to be fitted in. Some might have to expand the space at the entrance to allow for the parking of a fire engine,' he said.
