1 - HKU Libraries - The University of Hong Kong

7CONCLUSIONANDRECOMMENDA TIONSCONCLUSION7.1 The Yue Wan Estate fire in July 1995 hasexposed many problems relating to the provision andmaintenance of EVAs and FSIs and equipment, mainly in thePHEs. Notably some of these problems were : inadequateEVAs and outdated FSIs and equipment in the old PHEs,lack of a systematic inspection programme in respect ofFSIs and equipment, vandalism of such equipment andinsufficient fire safety training for estate staff.Following the fire, the FSD, HD and the HKHS have made alot of efforts in resolving such problems by makingimprovements to such fire safety measures in the PHEs.These improvements include, amongst others, the carryingout of enhancement works to EVAs, upgrading of FSIs andequipment, drawing up and implementing of a full scaleinspection programme for such fire safety equipment andreinforcing of fire safety training for the estate staff.As a result of the implementation of the aforementionedimprovement works and remedial measures, the situation inthe PHEs should now be improving to a great extent.7.2 In the case of private building developments,it is more than likely that some, if not all, of theproblems mentioned in the above paragraph may also exist.Furthermore, the lack of legislative requirements for theprovision of EVAs in respect of building developmentshas, in particular, caused definite concern, from thefire safety point of view, in respect of redevelopmentswithout a change in land leases in the *old' areas.However, probably because of resource problems and issuesrelating to the question of ownership, it would appearthat the efforts spent by the FSD (and other relevantgovernment departments) on studying and improving thesituation in the PHEs have not been repeated in the- 104 -