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upgrading of fire protection measures {includingautomatic sprinkler installations, emergency lighting andothers) in large commercial premises with a total floorarea of over 23 0m 2 . This remedial measure will undoubtedlyhelp improve the present undesirable situation in respectof this type of old buildings to a significant extent.6.16 On the other hand, following the Shek Kip Meiincident, the FSD staff have been conducting joint visitswith the Labour Department staff to old industrialundertakings which are not protected by sprinkler system.The purpose of these visits is to advise the factoryproprietors concerned to upgrade the existing FSIs andequipment in their old premises. However, the efforts ofthese two departments have not satisfactorily achievedthe intended purposes because they have not met withpositive responses from thfe factory owners at large.Therefore, there appears to be a need for theAdministration to give serious consideration to thefeasibility of extending the above , new legislativerequirements to cover other major types of old premisessuch as industrial premises.6.17 As regards maintenance of FSIs and equipment,it is now a statutory requirement on the part of theowner concerned under Regulation 8 of the Fire Service(Installations and Equipment) Regulations. In reality,the owner concerned usually entrusts this statutoryresponsibility to one or more of the about 800 registeredFSI contractors insofar as the technical maintenance ofthe FSIs and equipment is concerned. The requirementsfor the frequency of inspections to and testing of thevarious types of FSIs and equipment for differentpremises are fully prescribed in the FSD's prevailingCode of Practice for Inspection and Testing ofInstallations and Equipment.6.18 Probably of resources problem, the FSD does notat present have a systematic programme for inspecting theFSIs and equipment in the private buildings by its staff,as in the case of inspection of EVAs in such buildings.Inspections are carried out only on a random basis or onreceipt of complaints. In reality and practice, the veryresponsibility of properly maintaining FSIs and equipmentin all private buildings (and in fact also in the PHEs)falls largely on the 800 registered FSI contractors inthe territory. Therefore, the importance and need for an- 86 -