Public Order | 339
Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offenders
During 2011, a total of 7 084 charges were laid against people who had committed various immigration offences. These included remaining illegally in Hong Kong, breaching conditions of stay, making false statements or representations, and using or possessing forged travel documents.
The Immigration Ordinance was amended in November 2009 to include a new section 38AA to prohibit illegal immigrants or persons subject to removal or deportation orders from taking up employment, whether paid or unpaid. In October 2010, the Court of Appeal handed down the sentencing guideline in respect of section 38AA stating that 15 months' imprisonment should be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under the section. A total of 129 people were prosecuted under that provision in 2011.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department (FSD) fights fires, protects life and property in the event of fires and other calamities. It also provides emergency ambulance services, and gives fire protection advice to the public.
The department has 9 171 uniformed and 636 civilian members and is one of the world's finest fire brigades with well-trained personnel, advanced communications systems, and modern equipment and appliances.
The department responded to 34 188 fire calls, 27 159 special service calls and 690 114 ambulance calls in 2011.
Fire-fighting and Rescue
Of the 34 188 fire calls received in 2011, 19 were classified as major fires of No. 3 alarm and above. Careless handling or disposal of lighted materials, such as cigarette ends, matches and candles, was the major cause of fires, accounting for a total of 1674 cases in 2011, accidents occurring during the preparation of foodstuffs caused 1 672 fires, while electrical faults caused 712 fires. Unwanted alarms, triggered mainly by faulty automatic alarm systems, contributed to about 70 per cent of the total number of fire calls.
The department also provides a wide range of rescue services for incidents such as traffic accidents, shipwrecks, people trapped in lifts or locked in rooms, gas leaks, house collapses, flooding, landslides, industrial accidents and attempts by people to jump from heights. The department handled 27 159 of such special service calls in 2011.
Ambulance Services
The Ambulance Command handled 690 114 calls during the year, or on average 1 891 calls per day.
The department's ambulance fleet is fully equipped and manned at paramedic level. All emergency ambulances and emergency medical assistant motorcycles are