Charred firms want help from the government

As damage estimates from the fire at Hsichih's Eastern Science Park continued to rise, companies housed in the complex yesterday asked for government help in dealing with financial difficulties resulting from the blaze.

According to a preliminary report from the Taipei County Public Works Bureau, in the park's A block -- where the fire originated and where damage was the most severe -- office space should be useable after repairs are completed.

The repair process will require owners to appoint architects to propose a repair plan that will follow construction regulations implemented in 1988, when the building received its construction permit.

After the plan is approved, repairs will begin.

"What we can help the residents do is make the administrative process as short as possible," said Wu Zei-cheng (吳澤成), head of the Public Works Bureau.

The head of the management committee recommended that the companies housed in block A organize a separate management committee to handle the building's repair needs.

Owners of companies in the building urged the government to do more to step in and handle the problem.

Chen Cheng-zhang (陳成璋), whose company was housed on the sixth floor, said the government should get involved in dealing with difficulties surrounding compensation claims to multiple insurers.

Another owner echoed Chen's call for government intervention.

"My office was not destroyed by the fire, but everything was destroyed by water. My insurance company has refused to offer any compensation. I suggest the government take care of the repairs," the owner said, whose company was located on the 12th floor.

A representative from the Bureau of Monetary Affairs told residents yesterday that they are considering integrating insurance compensation.

"There are 180 cases of individuals applying for insurance compensation with different insurance companies and coverage. We are evaluating the possibility, with Chinese National Insurance Association, of integrating the compensation from different insurance companies," the official said.

The official, however, did not elaborate on how such a plan would operate or what it would entail.

Meanwhile, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) told legislators yesterday that because the removal of firewalls in the building resulted in the rapid spread of the fire, the likelihood of granting national compensation to businesses in the complex was low.

Government officials believe that efforts by firefigthers to put out the blaze were sufficient and that the building's poor safety standards and lack of firewalls made it easier for the blaze to spread.

According the National Compensation Law (國賠法), the government is only required to give compensation when it is found to be negligent.

Some companies said they are concerned as to how long the government would remember their plight and help them.

"The government has been very active since the fire occurred but they might become apathetic after a while. What we are afraid of is how long the government will stay active this time," said Lai Shun-ing (賴舜英), an employee of Working House.

The company had a shop on the third floor of the A block where the fire began and an office on the 17th floor.