Public Order | 323
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The centre is equipped with a sophisticated telecommunications and computer integrated mobilising system the Third Generation Mobilising System - to enhance the efficiency of mobilising fire and ambulance resources.
Fire Safety
The Fire Safety Command draws up fire safety policies and formulates fire safety measures for buildings and mass transit systems. It also devotes much of its effort to upgrading arrangements and procedures to protect old buildings from fires and to raise people's awareness of fire safety.
The Commercial Buildings and Premises Division enforces the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance to upgrade fire safety measures in prescribed commercial premises and specified commercial buildings. A total of 13 137 building inspections were conducted in 2008, and 620 Fire Safety Directions and 2 687 Fire Safety Improvement Directions were issued to 3 307 owners or occupiers of these premises and buildings.
The Building Improvement and Support Division is responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, which went into effect on July 1, 2007 to step up fire safety measures for pre-1987 domestic buildings and composite buildings. In 2008, the division made a total of 796 joint inspections of buildings with Buildings Department officers under this ordinance. A total of 9 769 Fire Safety Directions were issued, of which 522 were complied with and discharged. The division also carried out 1 137 complaint inspections concerning building fire safety (other than licensed premises and dangerous goods) and issued 700 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices.
A Building Safety Loan Scheme, administered by the Director of Buildings, has been established to provide financial assistance to owners to carry out building safety and fire safety improvement works. A total of 4 374 applications for such aid have been approved.
The New Projects Division, in co-operation with the Buildings Department and other departments, is responsible for vetting new building plans including those for mass transit systems, tunnels, bridges and at the airport. It also defines the fire protection needs of a particular premises. The division vetted a total of 11 721 building plans during the year.
The Railway Development Strategy Division scrutinises the fire safety requirements of new railway infrastructure projects. It processed submissions in respect of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the West Island Line, the Shatin-to-Central Link, the South Island Line (East) and the Kowloon Southern Link in 2008.
The Community Relations Section is responsible for improving public knowledge of fire safety and for co-ordinating publicity about fire prevention in collaboration with other government departments and the District Fire Safety Committees.