Hong Kong authorities will introduce a draft law by the end of this year to strengthen fire safety enforcement. The new bill will add fixed penalties for certain fire safety violations alongside current prosecution methods. A Security Bureau spokeswoman said, “The introduction of a fixed penalty system would complement the current primary enforcement method, which relies on initiating prosecution by summons.” This will help law enforcement act faster and focus on more complex cases. The move follows the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court that killed 168 people. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung proposed fixed penalties for violations like blocking escape routes. The bill will also review fire safety duties of building management and require Fire Services Department approval to turn off safety systems. The spokeswoman said fixed penalties may apply to easy-to-check offences such as missed annual fire inspections and locked emergency exits. The government plans to submit the amendment bill to the Legislative Council by year-end and consult lawmakers and stakeholders. Anthony Lam Chun-man, former director of fire services, praised the fixed penalty system for allowing quicker action without waiting for court. Currently, fire officers issue a fire hazard abatement notice for dangers, giving 24 hours to one month to fix the issue. Ignoring this can lead to fines up to HK$100,000 plus daily fines of HK$10,000. The Fire Services Department said the average time for investigating fire hazard offences and prosecution is about three months. Lam said fixed penalties suit clear violations like locked smoke doors. In 2024, the Fire Services Department issued 17,775 fire hazard notices and prosecuted 4,967 cases from 460,400 inspections. Of these, 8,661 came after a serious fire at New Lucky House in April that killed five and injured 43. In 2023, 9,075 notices and 1,471 prosecutions followed 456,168 inspections.