Public Order 341
The New Projects Division, in collaboration with the Buildings Department and other departments, is responsible for vetting new and amended building plans including those for the mass transit system, tunnels, bridges and the airport. It also defines the fire protection needs of certain premises. In 2011, the division vetted a total of 12 849 buildings plans.
The Railway Development Strategy Division scrutinises the fire safety requirements of new railway infrastructure projects. It also carries out acceptance inspections of fire service installations of new railway projects. The division participated in the planning and designing of five new railway projects: the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section), the West Island Line, the South Island Line (East), the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the Sha Tin to Central Link.
The Support Division is responsible for formulating, reviewing and updating departmental policies on improving fire safety in buildings and strengthening public understanding of the need for fire safety. The division collaborated with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) in producing eight episodes of a TV drama, Elite Brigade, which were broadcast weekly between early December 2010 and end January 2011, promoting the importance of fire safety and judicious use of emergency ambulance services. A weekly radio programme, Happy Daily, was also produced by RTHK and the Support Division and launched in April 2011 to enhance public knowledge of fire and ambulance services.
At the end of 2011, a total of 119 743 people were trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors (FSA) and 331 community leaders were appointed as FSA Honorary Presidents.
The Licensing and Certification Command formulates and enforces fire safety policies and regulations. It determines the fire safety needs of various types of licensed premises, as well as dangerous goods stores and vehicles, to ensure proper protection for the public. The command continued to support the Government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to improve business friendliness, efficiency and transparency without compromising fire safety. It has also stepped up law enforcement action against fire hazards in premises including restaurants, bars and karaoke establishments.
The Fire Service Installations Task Force has further stepped up the monitoring of fire safety in buildings and continued to strengthen public awareness of the need to maintain fire service installations (FSI) and equipment in buildings. A total of 102 369 inspections were made in 2011 with 2 036 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices issued. Legal action was taken against 20 owners of defective FSI and five contractors for contravening relevant regulations.
The department adopted in 2008 a four-pronged approach to improve fire safety in old buildings. It enlisted the help of the District Fire Safety Committees, FSA and FSA Honorary Presidents to promote fire safety in old buildings; stepped up inspections of old buildings to eradicate potential fire hazards; revisited buildings that were found to have potential fire hazards before; and encouraged the Building