CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949 — Page 65

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not be impossible to work out a satisfactory definition of "godown".

With the increased powers at his disposal, the Chief Officer should

then be in a much better position to decide upon those which should in addition to normal registration be licensed for the storage of dangerous

goods in accordance with the present provisions of the Ordinance.

"Inspectorate" Staff of the Fire Brigade:

83. The Fire Brigade has seven officers who are regarded as qualified

to carry out inspection duties in connection with the storage of danger-

ous goods. Training for such duties is carried out locally, and is

mainly of a practical nature, though some theoretical instruction is

given. During the months January to November, 1948 inclusive, 4089

inspections were carried out by Fire Brigade officers, of which about

1700 were connected specifically with the enforcement of regulations

in regard to storage of dangerous goods. The mere number of inspec-

tions carried out by so few officers indicates that the majority of

them can only have been of the most cursory nature, and it is hardly

possible for officers who also have duties in connection with training

for ordinary fire-fighting duties, to do more. We consider that the

enforcement of the Dangerous Goods Regulations and the Celluloid and

Cinematograph Films Regulations to be of paramount importance in the

prevention of fires, and fire prevention in a place like Hong Kong,

where there is such a congestion of habitations and where the terrain

and the narrowness of many streets places extraordinary difficulties

in the way of the fire extinction service, is even more vital than in

other countries with larger cities and more extensive built up areas.

84 We therefore recommend the establishment of a branch of the Fire

Brigade which should be engaged primarily on inspection and fire pre-

vention. We understand that the Chief Officer already had similar pro-

posals in view, and that he considered seven qualified inspectors would be sufficient for the duties which they would be called upon to performL. The salaries and allowances of such officers are anticipated to be an

extra charge on the Revenue of about $40,000.00 a year, but together with additional clerical assistance, accommodation expenses, etc., the