A Hong Kong factory building fire that broke out Monday morning in Cheung Sha Wan has left one fireman dead and three others injured.

The fire was put out at 2:24 p.m.(0424 GMT), six hours after it started on the fifth floor of Lai Cheong Factory Building on the Castle Peak road in Cheung Sha Wan.

The deceased firefighter, aged 47, had been working with the city's fire services department since 1984. He died shortly after being sent to the Princess Margaret Hospital.

"He lost contact with us about 20 minutes after he entered the blazing building. When we found him, he was trapped under fallen goods and a piece of furniture, already unconscious," an officer told media on the site after the fire was put under control.

Director of the fire services department Lo Chun-Hung said the factory building was built 45 year ago and has no automatic sprinkler system.

Lo said the government has launched an inquiry group to probe the cause of the blaze, which broke out at about 8:19 a.m.

He said fire equipment is upgraded regularly and more advanced apparatus will be implemented soon.

Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee visited the victim's family to convey their condolences Monday afternoon, pledging to render full assistance to them.

The officials also visited the injured firemen at Caritas Medical Center. The injured were said to be in serious condition.

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