Owners of blaze-hit Hong Kong building in 16-year dispute over fire safety order
- Head of local firefighters’ division also says unregistered structural changes found at 60-year-old New Lucky House, where fire claimed five lives and left 43 injured
- Building’s owners’ corporation involved in at least two ongoing non-compliance cases dating as far back as 2008 related to need to upgrade protection measures
The head of the local firefighters’ division also said a day after the blaze that New Lucky House had undergone unregistered structural changes, especially among its subdivided flats, that created additional obstacles for rescuers.
The fire at the 60-year-old commercial and residential building on Jordan Road also left 43 people injured, with eight in critical conditions, including a girl below the age of one.
The blaze has prompted an examination into the building’s history, with its owners’ corporation involved in at least two ongoing non-compliance cases dating as far back as 2008 involving the need to upgrade protection measures.
It had also met consultants over the years to discuss the issue.
Authorities have said five prosecutions were filed against owners in the past decade, with the charges related to obstruction of escape routes, failure to maintain fire fighting equipment and a lack of annual gear inspections.