PUBLIC ORDER
Deportation and Removal
The Immigration Department is responsible for the application, issue and execution of deportation and removal orders. During the year, 5 890 persons who were convicted of possessing or trafficking in dangerous drugs, deception, theft and other criminal offences were considered for deportation, and consequently 242 were deported from Hong Kong. In addition, 7459 persons were removed from Hong Kong under removal orders. These included 7 179 illegal immigrants and 280 persons who had breached their condition of stay.
Fire Services
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During the year, the Fire Services Department responded to 26 612 fire calls, 15 835 special service calls, 234 211 emergency and 185 566 non-emergency ambulance calls. Fire caused 35 deaths and injured 488 people, including 47 firemen. A total of 17 141 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 generally 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 346 lectures/talks were given during 1991 to a total audience of 10 346 from different sectors of the community. Furthermore exhibitions and demonstrations were held during the year to educate the public on fire safety aspects. The 7513 fire hazard complaints received from members of the public were an indication of the level of public concern about fire hazards and 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 179 convictions in 1991 with total fines of $0.7 million.
Fire Services personnel made 76 456 inspections of all types of premises and issued 4 339 abatement notices for the removal of fire hazards in 1991. There were 478 prosecutions during the year for non-compliance with abatement notices and for summonses, resulting in fines amounting to about $1.7 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 6 413 new building plans were processed during the year. The department is also responsible for carrying out research into matters associated with fire safety.
The Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance 1991 was enacted in May to provide for and improve the regulation, control and safety of hotel and guesthouse accommodation. After the enactment of this legislation, five fire protection officers were deployed to assist the licencing authority and the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Authority, in the licencing processes on fire safety matters. Since the establishment of this office on June 1, 1991, total of 1 766 Certificates of Exemption were issued to existing establishments with conditions to their operators to upgrade the fire safety measures of these premises to current standards.
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