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provided, the then BOO had in the previous yearscontemplated introducing legislative amendments to the BOfor the purposes of disapproving such plans. In 1974,the D of FS first raised the problem of increasingdifficulty in dealing with plans for buildings over 6storeys where there was no access for emergency vehiclesdue to narrowness of the street, stepped streets orobstructions such as hawker stalls and protruding shades;and asked the then BOO for an agreed policy on thismatter.4.74 The D of FS had previously taken the views thataccess for firefighting vehicles fell within thedefinitidn of ^fire service installation or equipment'under the FSO and therefore he could refuse to issue acertificate under S. 16(1) (b) of the BO where there wasno such access provided. Subsequently legal opinionconfirmed that this practice was legally incorrectbecause the certificate under S. 16(1) (b) of the BOshould relate solely to internal fire-fightinginstallations within the proposed building. It was alsopointed out that the completed building without accessfor fire-fighting vehicles could be regarded as a firehazard under the FSO and the D of FS could actaccordingly. As a result the D of FS stopped thepractice of refusing to issue a BOs 16(1) (b) certificateand instead issued a "letter of concern' to the developerindicating the fire hazard possibility. Such a practicewas also subsequently discontinued due to the lack of aclear legal backing (para. 4.19 above).4.75 The above problem of inadequacy of the BO hadsince 1974 be canvassed by both the then BOO and the FSD.From the years of 1975 to 1984, various proposals oflegislative amendments to the different provisions of S.16(i) of the BO had been made and considered but all suchproposals had not finally been pursued.Two Options of Legislative Amendments in 19894.76 The feasibility of introducing legislativeamendments to the BO was again revived in 1989 when twospecific options were made and considered. The firstoption was that a new ground under S. 16(1) of the BOmight be introduced to disapprove building plans whichshowed a building or buildings not provided with adequateaccess for emergency vehicles. The standards for such- 54 -