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firemen. More than 720 people were physically rescued by firemen and led to safety from dangerous situations. The supposed causes of fire followed much the same pattern as in previous years, with careless disposal of lighted cigarette ends and matches (3,241) and electrical faults (1,632) remaining the two most common causes.
Work is now proceeding to update the communications and call-out systems, which will reduce the time it takes for an appliance to be despatched from a fire station to a fire. It is hoped that the updating will be completed within two years.
A new fire station on Ap Lei Chau came into operation in September, bringing the total number of fire stations to 38 at the end of the year. Three more on Tsing Yi and at Lei Muk Shue and Chung Hom Kok--are nearing completion. Construction of 760 rank-and-file married quarters at Sha Tin and Kwai Chung was also begun.
Appliances
New appliances brought into use during the year included one 27-metre and five 15-metre Simon Snorkels (elevated hydraulic platforms), five light pumping appliances and a locally-designed mobile command unit. Three 50-metre turntable ladders ordered from West Germany are due to arrive in 1977. Orders have also been placed for 12 major pumps, four 37-metre turntable ladders and five light pumping appliances. A replacement for the outdated No. 3 fireboat stationed at Aberdeen is now under construction. More than 500 fire appliances and vehicles were in service at the end of 1976.___
Fire Prevention Bureau
During the year the Fire Prevention Bureau carried out 247,467 inspections of schools, factories, places of public entertainment, restaurants and many other types of premises. The figure was 54 per cent higher than in 1975.
After years of campaigning to educate the public on fire precautions, more people are now coming forward to seek advice and to complain of fire hazards. The number of complaints of all kinds investigated in 1976 was 147,363, the majority being con- cerned with means of escape. Most fire hazards are abated by request or persuasion, but where this has no effect it is necessary to resort to law. During the year 1,874 prosecutions were taken out against those who failed to comply with abatement orders and fines amounting to more than $1 million were imposed. The bureau also received 7,544 new building plans for processing.
The Child Care Centres Ordinance, which came into effect on June 1, empowers fire officers to enter such centres to check on fire safety measures. More than 137 were inspected during the year.
Officers of the bureau held 162 fire prevention lectures and exhibitions on the rudiments of fire fighting for the staff of other government departments and industrial establishments. Officers were also involved with major development projects and with new industrial undertakings, particularly with regard to new techniques and processes and their allied fire prevention features. The bureau has a staff of 217 and it operates offices on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon round the clock.