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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, the Director of Fire Services, Mr Lai Man-hin, the Director of Buildings, Mr Hui Siu-wai, and the Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janice Tse at a media session on the No. 4 alarm fire on Ngau Tau Kok Road at the Central Government Offices last night (June 23):
Reporter: Chief Executive, why nothing has been done for so long to improve the fire safety of old industrial buildings, and now as a result there are two fire fighters who lost their lives. And whether it is too risky to send third more fire fighters into the building now?
Chief Executive: This building stands in between high-rise residential buildings in a residential neighbourhood. The Fire Services Department sends firemen, our firemen colleagues, into this industrial building to put out the fire, to protect the life and the property of residents in their neighbourhood. I am saddened to see the loss of lives and injuries suffered on the part of our Fire Services colleagues. And it is our duty, the duty of government collectively and, in particular, the duty of our Fire Services colleagues to safeguard their lives, their safety and their property.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, June 24, 2016
Issued at HKT 02:52
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