PUBLIC ORDER
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means of escape. In October 1968 a Means of Escape Unit of the bureau was created to carry out a physical survey of the means of escape from all domestic buildings. It is expected that the survey will take two years to complete and the intelligence and experience accumulated by the unit will then be reviewed to determine the need or otherwise for a permanent Means of Escape Unit.
The department controls the Colony's ambulance service which is a semi-autonomous division. The service has 56 ambulances and during the year it carried an average of more than 6,000 patients each month.
The Fire Service building programme initiated in 1960 was con- tinuing during the year, and one fire station was completed. A modern well-equipped training school with a throughput of over 500 students a year was commissioned in March and officially opened by the Governor in July.
The department celebrated its centenary by holding a ceremonial review of fire appliances, equipment and contingents representing all branches of the service in November. A Centenary Ball was held in December, and many guests from various sections of the local community attended.
In the technological field, nine members of the service were successful in the 1968 examinations for the diploma of the Institu- tion of Fire Engineers. There are now 53 holders of this diploma in the service.
THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE
The Preventive Service of the Commerce and Industry Department is a uniformed and disciplined force of 895 officers responsible for those measures which in a customs-controlled port are handled by a Customs and Excise Department. Being a free port, Hong Kong imposes a duty on only five categories of imported goods, (tobacco, liquor, hydrocarbon oils, table waters and methyl alcohol). This is matched by an excise tax on the same items locally manufactured. The Preventive Service enforces legislation controlling the import, export and manufacture of dutiable commodities.
The service has a major responsibility in the field of narcotics smuggling. Because of Hong Kong's geographical and commercial