Hong Kong Police arrested a 51- year-old man who they suspect started a fire in Wan Chai's Revenue Tower on Thursday morning.

The suspect, whose name was not released by the police, was arrested on charges of arson while seeking medical treatment in Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories, Thursday afternoon.

The man has been detained for questioning, according to the police.

The suspect allegedly poured flammable liquid on two counters inside the Inland Revenue Department Business Registration Office on the fourth floor and set it alight at about 09:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT), a police spokesman said.

He burned himself in the arson attempt and fled. The fire was dowsed by the automatic sprinkler system and no casualties were reported.

Six hundred people were evacuated and the revenue service was also forced to suspend.

The Inland Revenue Department said its Estate Duty Office, Stamp Office, Collection Office, Inspection Office, Central Inquiry Counters and telephone inquiry services will resume normal Friday morning but the Business Registration Office will remain closed until further notice.

(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2008)