Taipei City cinema safety inspections: multiple ordered to improve within a deadline

(Taiwan Business News) Relevant agencies of the Taipei City Government conducted a comprehensive inspection of 36 cinemas in the city. Chen Xincheng, chief consumer protection officer of the Department of Legal Affairs, said that from January 1 of this year to May 26, a total of 197 operator inspections were carried out, and a total of 10 cinemas failed to submit public safety declarations to the Building Management Office in the first quarter of Year 103 (2014) as required. Five had already submitted and passed, while the other 5 were all ordered to make improvements within a deadline; 4 failed fire safety inspections, 3 were ordered to make improvements within a deadline, and 1 will be penalized according to law; 9 did not meet accessibility facility requirements, all were ordered to make improvements within a deadline, 1 had completed improvements, and 8 were making improvements within a deadline.

Shen Yonghua, section chief of the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism, said that according to this year's cinema inspection results in the city, in the building management section, a total of 5 cinemas, including Lux Cinema, In89 Lux Digital Cinema, Cinemark Jinghua Cinema, Ambassador Theatres - Breeze Center, and eslite cinema, failed to submit public safety declarations to the Building Management Office in the first quarter as required and have been ordered to make improvements within a deadline; in the fire safety section, Today Cinema's indoor smoke exhaust equipment failed, Lesheng Cinema failed multiple items including not employing a fire prevention manager, and Ambassador Theatres - Breeze Center failed items including not employing a fire prevention manager and malfunctioning equipment such as fire extinguishers, and all have been ordered to make improvements within a deadline. Huawei Tianmu Cinema's emergency broadcasting equipment still failed re-inspection and will be fined NT$6,000 to NT$30,000 under Article 37 of the Fire Services Act; also, employees of 2 cinemas including Cinemark Jinghua Cinema had not undergone regular health examinations, and after guidance they have improved. In addition, under Article 57 of the "People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act," cinemas in the city are required to install accessibility facilities. At present, a total of 9 cinemas have still not passed accessibility facility inspections, namely Ambassador Theatres @ Changchun Plaza, Dynasty Cinema, Nanshan Cinema, Longxiang Broadway Cinema, Minsheng Cinema, Lesheng Cinema, Zhen Shan Mei Theater, Jiajia Cinema, and Lailai Cinema. Nanshan Cinema has completed improvements, and the remaining 8 have been ordered to make improvements within a deadline.