PUBLIC ORDER
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contributions. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees again contributed substantially to running expenses by meeting the cost of food, medical supplies, utilities and certain relief items.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department responded to and dealt with 333 718 emergencies in 1983, of which 14 505 were fire calls, 9 426 special service calls and 303 523 ambulance calls. Fires caused 42 deaths, and left a further 692 people injured. Of the injured, 54 were firemen. Altogether, 19 432 people were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by firemen. Of the 7 659 false alarms, the great majority were raised with good intent, either by the public or by over-sensitive or defective automatic alarm systems, particularly smoke detectors.
Buildings and Quarters
Under the government policy to provide an emergency response to all areas within minimum set times according to the category of risk, four new fire stations were commissioned during the year. These were at Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island, Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon, Mai Po in the northern New Territories and Discovery Bay on Lantau Island. There are now 44 fire stations, 15 ambulance depots and five fireboat stations in the territory. Others are included in the Public Works Programme and in private developers' projects for construction over the next few years.
At the end of the year, more than 1960 staff quarters were occupied or available for occupation. Planning was in hand for 1066 additional married quarters for firemen and ambulancemen at five selected sites.
Fire Prevention
The department is responsible for enforcing fire safety regulations. It also advises and assists all sections of the community with regard to fire protection measures generally and in the abatement and elimination of fire hazards.
The Fire Protection Bureau plays an important role in educating the public on fire prevention. Publicity campaigns launched during the year increased the community's awareness of fire safety, resulting in requests for more fire prevention lectures, exhibitions and demonstrations from kaifong associations, rural committees, schools and community groups. The increasing number of complaints (7 795) received from members of the public was seen as an indication of the level of public concern over potential fire hazards and a growing awareness of the services provided by the department.
Fire Services personnel made 163 276 inspections of all types of premises and, where fire hazards were found, abatement notices were issued. In 1983, there were 2 948 prosecutions for non-compliance with abatement notices resulting in fines amounting to $1.3 million.
All new building plans are vetted by the department, which specifies the requirements for built-in fire protection and advises on related matters. More than 6 800 new building plans were processed during the year. The department is also responsible for carrying out research into matters associated with fire safety.
Ambulance Service
The Fire Services Department operates the government's ambulance service with a strength of 1 677 in all ranks of uniformed staff, and 119 civilian employees. The service operates 198 ambulances from 15 ambulance depots or stations throughout the territory and from many fire stations. During the year, a total of 303 523 calls, involving 409 054 people, were