以下為保安局局長黎棟國在立法會會議上就盧偉國議員的提問的書面答覆：
問題：
本年四月，一幢大廈的高層單位發生四級火警，但該大廈的消防栓失靈，增加救火工作的困難。有市民指出，該宗火警凸顯本港樓宇存在不少消防安全隱患。關於本港樓宇的消防安全，政府可否告知本會：
（一）鑑於《消防（裝置及設備）規例》（第９５章，附屬法例Ｂ）第８條訂明，擁有裝置在任何處所內的消防裝置或設備的人士，須每１２個月由一名註冊承辦商檢查該等消防裝置或設備至少一次，消防處有否考慮全面檢討該項規定是否能確保有關的檢查工作切實進行，使消防裝置或設備時刻可有效操作；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；及
（二）鑑於消防處先後在二○○七及二○一一年發表諮詢文件，建議為第三方參與消防安全審批人士（即註冊消防工程師）設立新的註冊機制，以推行第三方參與消防安全審批計劃，而次輪諮詢已於二○一二年一月十六日完結，消防處是否已按其在諮詢文件所作的承諾，根據諮詢結果，就消防工程師的註冊事宜及第三方參與消防安全審批計劃的實施形式，制訂政策；若是，詳情為何；若否，原因為何？
答覆：
主席：
（一）根據《消防（裝置及設備）規例》（第９５Ｂ章），消防裝置／設備的擁有人必須保持該等消防裝置／設備可有效操作，並須每年最少一次由註冊消防裝置承辦商對裝置／設備作出檢查，完成檢查後１４日內必須將年檢證書的副本送交消防處。對於未有按時安排檢查的消防裝置／設備擁有人，或有任何承辦商提供屬虛假或具誤導性的證明書等，消防處均會採取執法行動。此外，消防處會對年檢證書進行抽樣檢查，及對年檢證書上顯示的問題採取適當跟進行動，例如對有關樓宇發出警告信等。
現時，政府透過法例和行政措施監管消防裝置承辦商。註冊消防裝置承辦商如因違規而被法庭定罪，消防處會根據《消防（裝置承辦商）規例》（第９５Ａ章），將有關個案轉交「註冊消防裝置承辦商紀律委員會」作出紀律聆訊。委員會會視乎問題的嚴重性及個案情況，對相關承辦商作出譴責，或從承辦商註冊紀錄冊中將其除名。
除此以外，消防處對消防裝置承辦商，亦有一套違例記分制的行政措施以作監管。消防處會按承辦商的過失或違規情況給予相應的記分，並因應其記分情況，調節對該承辦商負責維修保養的消防裝置及設備系統的巡查次數，目的是對有問題紀錄的承辦商作出較嚴密的監管，以確保其水平達到有關要求。
現時透過有關法例、行政措施和消防巡查相輔相成，消防處認為無須改變現行的規管制度。消防處會密切注視消防裝置承辦商的表現，採取適當跟進行動加強監管有問題的承辦商。
（二）引入第三方參與消防安全審批，是指消防處計劃引入註冊消防工程師制度，讓牌照申請人可以在現時消防處提供與消防安全有關的服務以外，選擇另外聘請註冊消防工程師提供該些服務。該計劃建議，合乎資格的工程師可向消防處註冊成為註冊消防工程師，成功註冊後他們便可以為擬申請牌照的處所（例如食肆及戲院等）提供與消防安全有關的服務，包括進行火警風險評估、制訂消防安全規定，以及查核處所的消防裝置／設備及／或通風系統是否符合消防處的規定，並發出消防安全證明書，讓該處所可憑證明書申請所需的牌照，藉此縮短申請牌照所需的時間，以配合業界的業務需要，從而便利營商。在引入註冊消防工程師制度後，消防處仍會繼續提供與消防安全有關的服務，讓牌照申請人可按其需要自由選擇服務提供者。
消防處在二○○七／○八年及二○一一／一二年曾就上述計劃諮詢業界，大部分業界人士表示支持。因應業界的意見及為了評估有關計劃對業界可能產生的影響，消防處在二○一二年年中委託顧問進行營商環境影響評估，當中包括評估註冊消防工程師的供應及服務收費等。消防處現正審閱顧問提交的報告，並計劃於二○一三年年中向業界匯報營商環境影響評估的結果。
視乎評估結果及業界的建議，消防處計劃與工程師註冊管理局、香港工程師學會以及業界人士等成立工作小組，以進一步討論及制訂落實計劃的細節，並準備有關的法例修訂工作。
Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Ir Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok in the Legislative Council:
Question :
In April this year, a Number 4 alarm fire broke out in an upper floor unit of a building, but the fire hydrant in that building malfunctioned, which had increased the difficulties of fire-fighting work. Some members of the public have pointed out that this fire has highlighted the existence of quite a number of potential fire safety hazards in buildings in Hong Kong. Regarding fire safety in buildings in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that section 8 of the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations (Cap. 95 sub. leg. B) provides that the owner of any fire service installation or equipment which is installed in any premises shall have such fire service installation or equipment inspected by a registered contractor at least once in every 12 months, whether the Fire Services Department (FSD) has considered conducting a comprehensive review of whether such a requirement can ensure that the relevant inspection work is conducted properly, so as to keep fire service installations or equipment in efficient working order at all times; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(b) given that FSD published a consultation document in 2007 and 2011 respectively proposing the establishment of a new registration mechanism for the third party engaged in fire safety certification (i.e. registered fire engineers) so as to implement the Third Party Fire Safety Certification Scheme, and the second round of consultation had already ended on January 16, 2012, whether FSD has formulated a policy on the registration of fire engineers and the implementation of the Third Party Fire Safety Certification Scheme based on the consultation outcome as it had undertaken to do so in the consultation document; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) In accordance with the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations (Cap. 95B), an owner of fire service installations (FSIs)/equipment shall make sure that the FSIs/equipment can function properly and are inspected at least once a year by a registered FSI contractor, who shall forward a copy of the annual inspection certificate to the Fire Services Department (FSD) within 14 days after completion of the inspection. FSD will take enforcement actions against FSIs/equipment owners who fail to arrange inspections of their FSIs/equipment on time and against contractors who file a false or misleading certificate, etc. The Department also conducts random check on the annual inspection certificates and takes appropriate follow-up actions against problems shown on the certificates, such as issuing a warning letter to the building concerned, etc.
Currently, there are legislation and administrative measures for the Government to monitor FSI contractors. When a registered FSI contractor is convicted by the court for contravening a regulation, FSD will refer the case to the Registered FSI Contractors Disciplinary Board for disciplinary inquiry under the Fire Service (Installation Contractors) Regulations (Cap. 95A). Depending on the seriousness and circumstances of the case, the Disciplinary Board may reprimand the concerned contractor or remove him from the list of registered FSI contractors.
In addition, FSD makes use of an administrative measure, i.e. a demerit point system, to monitor the performance of FSI contractors. The Department will record demerit points corresponding to the fault and contravention committed by the contractor. It will then adjust its frequency of inspection on FSIs and equipment maintained by such contractors in accordance with the demerit point record. This is to ensure that contractors with unsatisfactory record will be monitored more closely in order to ensure that their service level meets the required standard.
Under the existing regulatory system, the legislation, administrative measures and fire safety inspections are complementary of one another. Hence, FSD does not see a need to modify the current system. Nonetheless, it will closely monitor the performance of FSI contractors and take appropriate follow-up actions to strengthen the monitoring on those with unsatisfactory records.
(b) The introduction of Third Party Fire Safety Certification refers to FSD's plan to introduce the Registered Fire Engineer (RFE) Scheme, under which a licence applicant may opt to engage an RFE for provision of fire safety-related services, instead of using those services provided by FSD. Under the Scheme, a qualified engineer may register with FSD as an RFE. Upon successful registration, the RFEs may provide fire safety-related services to licence applicants (such as restaurants and cinemas), which include the conduct of fire risk assessments, formulation of fire safety requirements, certification of compliance of FSD's requirement for FSIs/equipment and/or ventilating systems in the premises, as well as the issue of Fire Safety Certificates for those licence applicants. These steps could help to shorten the time required for obtaining the licence and meet the needs of the trades, so as to achieve business facilitation. After the introduction of the RFE Scheme, FSD would continue to provide fire safety-related services so that licence applicants would have a choice on the service provider basing on their needs.
FSD conducted consultation exercises in 2007-08 and 2011-12. The majority of the trade supported the proposed RFE Scheme. In light of the views of the trade and to assess the possible impact of the RFE Scheme on the trade, FSD has commissioned a consultant in mid-2012 to conduct a business impact assessment, including the assessment on the potential supply of RFEs and their service charges. The Department is studying the consultant's report and plans to brief the trade on its findings in mid-2013.
Subject to the findings of the assessment and the views of the trade, FSD plans to set up a working group comprising representatives from the Engineers Registration Board, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the trade, etc., to further discuss and formulate the implementation details. They will also make preparations for the relevant legislative amendments.
