The Hsinchu City Government recently convened the 2025 “Fire Safety 345” Policy Review Meeting, chaired by Secretary-General Chang Chih-Hsiang. The city government noted that since Mayor Kao Hung-An launched the “Fire Safety 345” initiative in June 2024, its focus has been progressively established. Consequently, the meeting schedule was adjusted from twice monthly in the initial phase to once a month, with a total of nine meetings held last year. Beginning in 2025, the meetings have been shifted to a quarterly basis, and this session marked the fourth such meeting. During the meeting, the Fire Bureau and the Department of Urban Development reviewed the progress of various initiatives. The Fire Bureau also reported on concrete achievements in innovative measures, including a nationwide-first subsidy for repairing fire alarm and public address systems in older buildings, as well as enhancing disaster prevention knowledge in high-rise residential complexes, all aimed at creating a safer living environment for citizens.
Mayor Kao noted that while the city team has promoted the “3 Lights, 2 Devices, 1 Door” subsidy program over the past three years, they discovered a recurring challenge: although some buildings received subsidies to repair simple fire equipment in public stairwells, their systemic equipment had remained unmaintained for long periods. The overall cost to repair these complex systems often reaches millions of dollars, posing a significant financial burden on residents. In response, Mayor Kao instructed the city team to develop a solution and officially approved the “Apartment Complex Fire Safety Equipment Maintenance and Renewal Subsidy Program” starting in 2025. This makes Hsinchu the first local government in Taiwan to provide full subsidies for the repair of fire alarm and public address systems in older buildings.
Mayor Kao further explained that Hsinchu is a city with a high concentration of industries and dense residential development, placing greater demands on public safety and disaster resilience. The city government has long prioritized fire safety in older buildings and continues to advance equipment upgrades and fire prevention improvement programs, with particular emphasis on providing subsidies for buildings that obtained their occupancy permits prior to 1995.
