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Discipline
PUBLIC ORDER
Riots and disturbances occurred in prisons and institutions in many parts of the world during 1973 and Hong Kong was no exception. On April 19, 1973 a dis- turbance took place in the maximum security prison at Stanley. Three members of the staff were taken as hostages but were released three hours later unharmed. Damage caused was minor, and the disturbance was brought under control without injury to any prisoner. Two members of the staff received minor injuries. An enquiry was conducted into the incident and as a result, follow up action is now being taken. There were a total of 43 escapes or abscondings from institutions in 1973, compared with 29 in 1972.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department continued its planned expansion programme, which aims to keep pace with the growth of industry and the increasing urbanisation of the rural areas. Two new fire stations were commissioned at Yau Tong and Fanling, and approval was given for the planning of a new type of divisional station of ad- vanced design as well as the replacement of one of the department's fleet of six fire- boats.
The current authorised establishment now totals 3,750 all ranks. They are equipped with 399 modern operational appliances of all types, together with 86 ambulances. Recruitment difficulties have continued and the service is currently nine per cent, or 350 officers and men, below strength. These shortages have, of necessity, had to be carried mainly in the Fire Prevention Bureau and the staff of headquarters with the result that forward planning and some fire prevention in- spections have had to be curtailed.
Despite these difficulties all emergency calls, of which there were 50,378, were handled without delay, while the Fire Prevention Bureau carried out 196,724 inspections and approved 6,268 new building plans.
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Preventive Service
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The Hong Kong Preventive Service is a disciplined force of 1,100 officers and men under the control of the Director of Commerce and Industry in his capacity as Commissioner.
The service is responsible for the protection of revenue derived from three categories of goods which are dutiable-alcoholic liquors, tobacco, and hydrocarbon oils used for automotive purposes. Physical controls over the import, export, manu- facture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong are adminis- tered by the service. The success of revenue protection operations is reflected in the number of seizures made during the year-61 illicit stills, 12,166 gallons of fermenting materials, 816 lbs of tobacco, 3,848 gallons of liquor and 3,904 gallons of diesel oil taken into custody and confiscated.
The service has important responsibilities in the prevention and detection of illicit narcotic and other dangerous drugs usage. More than half the strength of