61. Where Governments succeed in their efforts to deter 'today's children' from becoming tomorrow's 'tobacco addicts' the effect on Fire Service expenditure in future years could be very considerable. Intensified efforts to deter the public from interfering with electrical circuits and equipment coupled with the enforced use of 'foolproof" circuit breakers would achieve similar results.
62. The provision of statutory powers to enable the courts to punish carelessness in the matter of fires in like manner to motoring and other offences against the 'person' would, combined with anti-smoking and anti-electrical hazard measures, result in dramatic reductions in Fire Service expenditure and fire losses throughout the world.
63. It appears an odd reflection on our times that whilst a motorist found guilty of careless driving can and often is punished, the person who carelessly starts a fire (which not infrequently results in loss of life, loss of homes, and considerable financial loss and unemployment) seldom, if ever, is held responsible for his act.
64. As will be seen from the 70% increase in incidents of fires and notwithstanding the tremendous efforts of Kaifongs, of our Fire Prevention Bureau and of the Government Information Services, the public in general remain indifferent to the damaging effect on their well being and the Colony's economy of their carelessness in the matter of fires.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES
65. Fire calls in Hong Kong are classified as follows:
Small fires
First Aid Lines or Hand Extinguishers
1st alarms
0-5 jets
2nd alarms
(premises of especial risk, e.g. Dangerous Goods Stores)
3rd alarms
5-10 jets
4th alarms
•
11-25 jets
*
(and/or persons unaccounted for)
5th alarms
26-50 jets
Disaster alarms
All resources.
66. Each category of alarm is answered by a pre-determined attend- ance of appliances and manpower.
11