A fire broke out at a century-old restaurant in Tai Kwun. At 6:54 am on July 7th, a fire occurred in 'Jin Hua Bing厅', a restaurant located at 45 Tak Sun Street that has been operating for over half a century. Firefighters rushed to the scene and used a water hose along with a team of smoke caps units to extinguish the fire, taking about 27 minutes to put it out. Five staff members managed to self-evacuate, and one 45-year-old male chef named Chen attempted to use a fire extinguisher when saving the fire but was accidentally burned by the hot oil fumes. Paramedics treated his injuries on site and he declined further medical treatment.
The Jin Hua Bing厅 is a well-known decades-old tea restaurant in Hong Kong, famous for its pineapple tarts, egg tart, cream tea, and buttered eggs. It has been open for over 50 years, earning recognition from the Travel Development Bureau. The restaurant is renowned for its hot, freshly made dishes and has been popular among local residents and overseas visitors for many years. The scene was witnessed by many passersby and police officers maintained order at the site while setting up a temporary blockade with police tape. Firefighters placed a large exhaust fan at the entrance to fumigate the store and clear the lingering smoke.
The incident raised concerns over the safety measures in such century-old establishments, especially in bustling tourist areas like Tai Kwun. It emphasized the importance of regular fire drills and the condition checks of kitchen equipment to prevent such accidents. The fire was initially suspected to be caused by a greasy pan overheating and catching fire in the kitchen, overwhelming the staff's efforts to keep others safe. Fire authorities reported minor injuries but the early response helped contain the damage.