to a certain degree. Consideration is therefore being given to the installation of a small number of experimental hydrants with direct connexion to the Kowloon trunk mains, thus ensuring a 24-hour supply for fire-fighting.
21. Salt water hydrants proved to be very valuable in check- ing fires during water restriction hours on several occasions. These hydrants were also inspected quarterly and maintained in good working order.
22. The static water tanks were regularly inspected and maintained in good conditions.
23. In view of the continued restriction of water supply, this Department continued to advise owners or occupiers of buildings which had private fire service installations fed by street mains to provide roof water-storage tanks. As the result of its encouragement, and with co-operation of the Public Works Department, many such tanks were erected. These tanks are supplied by well-water, and usually have a capacity of 2,000 gallons, which ensures that water is always available for dealing with fires in the initial stage.
INSPECTION BRANCH AND FIRE PREVENTION
24. Officers attached to the Inspection Branch made a total of 9,314 inspections of premises of various descriptions during the year under review. Apart from routine inspections in connexion with the administering of various Ordinances, these inspections included goodwill visits and investigations of com- plaints of illegal storage of dangerous goods, or of obstruction to staircases or fire escapes, etc.
25. Prosecutions of offenders for infringements of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, the Miscellaneous (Timber Stores) Ordinance, and the Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Ordin- ance, were undertaken on 88 occasions and convictions were registered in all cases with fines totalling $15,330.00. In many cases illegally stored dangerous goods were confiscated in addition to fines being imposed.
imposed. A detailed summary of inspections is shown in Appendix II.
26.
AMBULANCE SERVICE
The Brigade has a fleet of 18 ambulances which operate from 7 different fire stations-i.e. Central, Eastern and Western
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