Hong Kong to launch public consultation on fire safety reforms with penalties up to HK$3 million

Hong Kong authorities are planning to launch a public consultation over a raft of new fire safety-related requirements and offences with tough penalties following the city's deadliest blaze in decades. The bureau said its public consultation would follow its meeting with the Legislative Council's security panel, scheduled for May 5. "Our goal is to submit the bill to the Legislative Council for consideration by the end of 2026, with the aim of implementing various reform measures as soon as possible," it said. The bureau said that one of the key revisions it was proposing was elevating appropriate administrative measures to legal requirements, such as conducting alarm bell tests at least every six months. Other proposed changes previously reported by SCMP include sharply increasing the maximum penalty for existing offences related to unauthorised handling of fire equipment and the issuance of false or misleading certificates, up from a HK$50,000 (US$6,380) fine to a maximum fine of HK$3 million and three years' imprisonment.