Official data reveals that nearly half of fire safety system shutdowns in Hong Kong for maintenance have exceeded the new two-month limit. These rules were introduced following a deadly blaze, but many renovation projects continue to run past the cap.

Almost half of notices filed to deactivate fire-fighting systems over the past two years for maintenance involved renovation projects that lasted longer than the maximum two months allowed under new rules introduced after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, official data has shown. A spokesman for the Fire Services Department told the South China Morning Post that the new rules would also apply to ongoing projects which had their notices to shut down the fire-fighting system before the recent...