Frequently Asked Questions

Except under and in accordance with a licence granted under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, no person shall manufacture, store, convey or use any dangerous goods.  The Fire Services Department (“FSD”) is aware that some couriers, logistics operators or freight companies are frequently engaged by their clients to convey suspected dangerous goods (“DG”), e.g. helium pressure receptacles, by land to residential flats, offices or other locations.  The FSD will issue advisory letters to remind the operators to be more vigilant of the goods and parcels consigned by their clients.  To ensure safety, storage of DG in offices and warehouses in excess of the exempt quantity is prohibited.  Moreover, a courier’s vehicle without a relevant licence issued by the FSD is not allowed to carry Class 2/3/3A DG (i.e. compressed gases and flammable liquids) exceeding the exempt quantity.

In general, users should use up the compressed gas (such as refrigerants and helium gas) in the metallic gas cylinders before disposal, and return the empty gas cylinders to the suppliers or deliver them to the scrap hardware recyclers for recycling.  Scrap gas cylinders containing dangerous goods or harmful chemicals have to be disposed properly in accordance with provisions of the chemical waste disposal legislation.

It is an offence for any person to dispose scrap gas cylinders in public places.  The Environmental Protection Department and relevant law enforcement agencies will issue $3,000 fixed penalty notices to the offenders in accordance with the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance.

Some of the provisions of the Dangerous Goods (Control) Regulation (Cap. 295G) prescribe compliance of the requirements of the code of practice.  In general, any person who fails to comply with the relevant requirements specified in The Code of Practice for Dangerous Goods on Land may contravene the relevant provisions.

If the driver is not attending the vehicle, the driver must ensure that the vehicle is attended by another person - who

(a)     has attained the age of 18；

(b)     is authorized by the driver; and

(c)      is aware of —

           (i)         the whereabouts of the driver; and

          (ii)        the nature of the dangerous goods on the vehicle.

For the details, please refer to Section 132 of Dangerous Goods (Control) Regulation (Cap. 295G).

Pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Control) Regulation (Cap. 295G, Laws of Hong Kong), a DG store must not be used for the storage of any thing or DG, except-

(i) any thing that is necessary to facilitate the storage of the S2DG; or

(ii) an empty receptacle used for containing the S2DG.

Since first aid facility, cleaning equipment or maintenance tools do not belong to the above-mentioned categories, these items cannot be stored inside a DG store.  Anyone who breaches any term or condition endorsed upon any licence issued pursuant to section 9 shall constitute an offence which shall be punishable by a fine at level 5 and imprisonment not exceeding 1 month.