Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department (FSD) is considering proposing a legal amendment to enhance building fire safety in the wake of the deadly Tai Po blaze, fire chief Andy Yeung has said.

The FSD plans to submit draft legislation to the legislature by the end of 2026 to implement new safety measures, including requiring buildings to seek government approval before shutting down fire alarms, the fire services director said on Tuesday.

Currently, the FSD only needs to be informed after buildings turn off their fire alarms, Yeung said.

The department also seeks to make property management companies the responsible parties for overseeing buildings’ fire safety equipment. Currently, only property owners are responsible for fire safety measures.

The FSD also plans to introduce fixed penalties for fire safety hazards, such as blocking escape routes and damaging smoke-barrier windows.

Wang Fuk Court, a housing estate in Tai Po, was undergoing a large-scale repair when a fire struck in late November. The disaster brought to light a litany of problems, including fire safety issues.

Authorities confirmed that many residents were unaware of the blaze because the fire alarms in all eight buildings did not work. The inferno claimed the lives of 168 people, including one firefighter. It was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948. 

Yeung said that, in the aftermath of the Tai Po blaze, the FSD had implemented measures to enhance fire safety, including setting up a special team to inspect all buildings under renovation.

In December, the government established an independent committee to probe the fire.

Yeung said on Tuesday that the FSD had submitted all relevant documents to the independent committee.