XN000022-1977-04-26 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1977

OVER 800 PEOPLE PROSECUTED FOR BREAKING FIRE LAW

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOOK OUT 812 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC DWELLERS, COMMERCIAL AND FACTORY PROPRIETORS FOR BREAKING FIRE LAWS DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

THIS RESULTED IN THE IMPOSITION OF FINES AMOUNTING TO OVER $316,500.

THE CASES MAINLY CONCERNED OBSTRUCTION OF STAIRCASES AND MEANS OF ESCAPE, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND STORAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS WITHOUT A LICENCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES FOUND BY FIRE OFFICERS DURING INSPECTIONS.

HE URGED THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY FIRE HAZARD WHICH THEY

A OBSERVED TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU WHICH MAINTAINS ROUND-THE-CLOCK ANSWERING SERVICE,

DURING THE QUARTER UNDER REVIEW, FIRE OFFICERS CONDUCTED 60,145 INSPECTIONS, RE-INSPECTIONS AND FOLLOW-UP VISITS TO RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO ABATING POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.

MORE THAN 36,790 OF THE INSPECTIONS WERE PROMPTED BY COMPLAINTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, OF WHICH 31,252 RELATED TO BLOCKAGE OF MEANS OF ESCAPE. THERE WERE 3,423 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF MEANS OF ESCAPE AND 11,244 VISITS TO FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.

NEARLY 6,000 VISITS WERE MADE TO SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS, PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY, VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 334 INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT ON VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, 672 ON CHILD CARE CENTRES. A TOTAL OF 1,958 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED, AND 798 DANGEROUS GOODS AND TIMBER YARDS STORAGE LICENCES WERE ISSUED OR RENEWED.

IN ADDITION, FIRE OFFICERS CONDUCTED 46 FIRE PREVENTION LECTURES AND INVESTIGATED 42 FIRES IN DEPTH.

THE NUMBER OF FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES ISSUED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH WAS 2,903.

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