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private building developments. It is therefore assessedthat the overall situation in such building developmentsmay not be regarded as without problems or concern.7.3 The provision and proper maintenance of firesafety measures are of crucial importance to theprevention and extinguishment of fire as well as theprotection of life and property. Insofar as theprovision and maintenance of EVAs are concerned, it isnot the sole responsibility of the FSD, and the effortsand co-operation of other relevant government departmentswould also be required.7.4 Based on the preceding observations andfindings, this Office concludes that there are somedeficiencies in the existing procedures governing theprovision and maintenance of EVAs and FSIs and equipmentfor building developments, mainly as follows -(a) there is a lack of statutory requirementfor the provision of EVAs for buildingdevelopments;(b) the FSD does not have a regular programmein place for inspecting EVAs in privatebuilding developments;(c) apart from the Fire Safety (CommercialPremises) Bill (expected to be enacted inMay 1996) which requires commercialpremises of specific types with a totalfloor area exceeding 230m 2 to upgrade theirfire safety measures, there are no otherlegislative proposals for similarimprovements in respect of other buildingdevelopments;(d) the FSD does not have a regular programmein place for inspecting FSIs and equipmentin all building developments by itsofficers;(e) the present FSD's control and supervisionof the performance of FSI contractors arenot wholly adequate and satisfactory;(f) enforcement of the present EVA guidelinesregarding the delineation ofx large'- 105 -