FTU sounds alarm over fire safety at public estates
Members of the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) petitioned the Housing Department on Wednesday to address what they said was the alarming state of poorly maintained fire doors at public housing estates. The FTU said it carried out an extensive inspection of 11 public housing estates on Hong Kong Island between May and July, finding a range of problems with fire doors, including broken glass, faulty hinges and doors that couldn't close properly. It said the most serious issues were found at a 20-storey block at Model Housing Estate in North Point, where most of the fire doors could not be closed.  FTU lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung said the doors have gone unrepaired for years and the Housing Department has allowed the problems to go unchecked. "The problems with fire doors... continue to exist because there is no inspection. As long as the department follows up on these cases, these problems could definitely be solved," he said.   The FTU said the Housing Department should carry out thorough inspections of all fire safety facilities at every public housing estate in the city.