Heritage | Tin Hau Temple fire alarm incident draws attention of IC

A fire alarm was triggered at the Tin Hau Temple yesterday morning, however no damages have been recorded in the temple itself, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) said in a press release issued yesterday.

Yesterday, around 9 a.m., the IC received a notification from the Fire Services Bureau about the incident. According to the Fire Bureau, the alarm was triggered by a fire in a tin-roofed area near to the temple.

The IC later confirmed that both the Tin Hau and the Kuan Yam temples, which is behind the Tin Hau temple, were not involved in the fire, however, several spots inside the Tin Hau Temple were blackened by the smoke. No injuries were recorded.

At the time of printing, the Fire Services were still investigating the cause of the fire.

Due to the damages caused by Typhoon Hato, the IC has been carrying out a series of restoration works at the Tin Hau Temple, including repairing its roof and Buddhist library, as well as the power facilities.

“We think this is indeed a serious case. We said it many times before and we have also required the protection of these cultural relics to be done well,” said IC President Leung Hio Meng.

Following yesterday’s incident, the IC pledged that it will implement five additional prevention measures. It also requested all temple owners and users to try their best in assuming responsibilities of a good management of cultural relics.

According to an inscription found at the site, the area was converted into a temple in 1865, and later restored in 1987.