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systems in PHEs are tested twice a year whichis more frequent than statutory requirement".(b) Whilst it is true that the said conversionprogramme was initiated in 1992, this Office isof the view that the majority of theimprovement and remedial works to the PHEs wereclearly formulated and implemented as a resultof the deliberation of the Inter-departmentalWorking Group formed following the publicationof the joint inter-departmental report on theYue Wan Estate fire. Such remedial works werecarried out by both the FSD and the HD andmainly included, for example, the enhancementworks to EVAs, installation and upgrading ofadditional FSIs and equipment, the FSD's EVAinspection programme and others. It is anindisputable fact that measures of such anextensive scale were initiated only after thesaid fire in July 1995.Observation in Para. 6.21(x)(c) The D of FS states that the provision ofEVA to NTEHs is proposed and supported by theFSD, and opines that this could only beachieved with the assistance of the Plan D andthe Lands D.Observation in Para* 6.21(ae)(d) The D of FS expresses his view that it hasalways been the FSD's intention to upgrade FSIsand equipment of old buildings/premises to thecurrent standard. However, he considers this avery complicated issue as most of the buildingsare multi-occupancies and it is not alwayspossible to upgrade the FSIs to the currentstandard due to, for example, the buildingdesign constraint. The FSD considers that,before bringing such into legislative effect,an in-depth study into this issue with wideconsultation with the public and othergovernment departments is required and thiswould inevitably involve additional resources.Notwithstanding the above, the FSD has triedits best to upgrade the fire safety standard of- 113 -