A year after 40 people died in one of Hong Kong's worst fire disasters, no new safety regulations have been passed to avoid a repeat of the tragedy, experts say.
They warned that lax fire-prevention measures covering older buildings meant a repeat of the November 20 blaze which swept through the Garley Building on Nathan Road was possible.
Chan Kam-hong, chief executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, said safety recommendations highlighted during a nine-month inquiry into the Garley fire had still not been acted on.
'It's already a year after the tragedy, but legislation to improve safety will not be introduced to the Provisional Legislative Council until next year,' he said.
'And, in the meantime, no concrete measures have been introduced to improve fire safety.' The Garley inquiry established that the blaze was started by welding work in a lift well. It also found there were few facilities in the building to fight fires.
The inquiry recommended the tightening of safety measures to ensure the installation of fire alarms in old commercial buildings.