278
PUBLIC ORDER
possessing or trafficking in dangerous drugs, deception, theft and other criminal offences were considered for deportation, and subsequently 163 were deported. In addition, 6 146 persons were removed from Hong Kong under removal orders. These included 5 774 illegal immigrants and 372 persons who had breached their condition of stay.
Fire Services
During the year, the Fire Services Department responded to 23 299 fire calls, 15 637 special service calls, 238 400 emergency and 194 540 non-emergency ambulance calls. Fires caused 41 deaths and injured 627 people, including 45 firemen. A total of 1 655 persons were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by Fire Services personnel.
Fire Prevention
The department is responsible for formulating and enforcing fire safety regulations. It also advises and assists all sections of the community with regard to fire protection measures and in the abatement of fire hazards. Besides updating and reviewing existing fire safety legislation and codes of practice, the Fire Protection Bureau plays an important role in educating the public on fire prevention. In addition to a major publicity campaign, a total of 320 lectures/talks were given during 1990 to a total audience of 13 438 from different sectors of the community. Furthermore, exhibitions and demonstrations were held during the year to educate the public on fire safety aspects. The 6 644 fire hazard complaints received from members of the public indicated the level of public concern about fire hazards and a growing awareness of the services provided by the department. Direct prosecutions on obstruction to means of escape and indiscriminate blocking of fire exits in multi-storey buildings amounted to 238 convictions in 1990 with total fines amounting to $0.9 million.
Fire Services personnel made 64 220 inspections of all types of premises and issued 6 803 abatement notices for the removal of fire hazards in 1990. There were 634 prosecutions during the year for non-compliance with abatement notices and for summonses, resulting in fines amounting to about $1.9 million.
All new building plans are vetted by the department, which specifies the requirements for built-in fire protection and advises on related matters. Some 6 878 new building plans were processed during the year. The department is also responsible for carrying out research into matters associated with fire safety.
Ambulance Services
The department operates the government ambulance service with a strength of 2 089 in all ranks of uniformed staff and 152 civilian employees. The service operates 254 ambulances and ambulance-aid motorcycles from 25 depots or stations throughout the territory and from many fire stations. During the year, 238 780 emergency calls and 195 725 non- emergency calls were handled, involving 538 768 people and representing an average of 1 190 calls every 24 hours. This was an increase of 1.5 per cent in the number of calls compared with the total for 1989. Facilities on ambulances are constantly reviewed and all ambulances are equipped with analgesic apparatus, piped oxygen, inflatable splints, special stretchers and incubator-carrying capability.
A radio/telephone patching system was installed in the Fire Services Control Centre to enable interactive communication between ambulances and major hospitals.