Changes to fire services law with tougher penalties set for public consultation

Hong Kong authorities are set to launch a public consultation on sweeping amendments to the Fire Services Ordinance, introducing stricter penalties and mandatory safety requirements following the city's deadliest blaze in decades. The Security Bureau confirmed plans to elevate administrative measures to legal mandates, including a requirement that fire alarm systems be tested at least every six months. The proposed changes, first reported by the South China Morning Post, come after the Tai Po fire tragedy that claimed multiple lives and exposed gaps in fire safety enforcement.

The most significant revision involves sharply increasing the maximum penalty for existing offences related to unauthorized handling of fire equipment and issuing false or misleading certificates. Currently capped at a HK$50,000 (US$6,380) fine, the new proposal raises the maximum fine to HK$3 million (US$382,800) and introduces up to three years' imprisonment. The bureau aims to submit the bill to the Legislative Council by the end of 2026, with the public consultation beginning after a May 5 meeting with the Legislative Council's security panel. These reforms represent a major shift in Hong Kong's approach to fire safety regulation, moving from administrative guidance to legally enforceable requirements with substantial deterrent penalties.