Fire_Services_1964-1965 — Page 9

10. The second highlight has been the extent to which the Fire Prevention Bureau has developed into 'the general watchdog over public safety'. This state of affairs has very largely been due to the following factors:

(1) the effect of the fire hazard abatement powers granted to the Director early

in 1964;

(2) legislation enacted in April 1964 prescribing for the publication of minimum

standards of Fire Service installations in buildings; and

(3) the extraordinary increase in the number of reports and complaints (now running at 500 per month) from the public relating to life and fire hazards in 'high blocks'.

11. The 1965 Chinese New Year celebrations passed with a relatively modest increase in the number of fires directly attributable to the dis- charge of fireworks. Clearly there is no case to abolish this traditional practice; nevertheless the time has come when the discharge of fire- crackers of an explosive character should be banned, except under special permit. Traditional arguments for 'loud bangs' appear to have been demolished, and prohibition of this type of firework would virtually eliminate or at least substantially reduce casualties during Chinese New Year celebrations and abbreviate the number of 'firework fires' to negligible proportions at all times.

REORGANIZATION

12. The Department was completely reorganized in 1961 following approval of a 10 year development plan. Experience over 4 years has indicated that the plan requires major modification in only two respects. In one case remedial action has already been taken; the other aspect is now receiving attention.

13. In the first place it was found that the division of the mainland into two districts, Kowloon and the New Territories, was unnecessary from an operational and an administrative point of view and that such an arrangement was not in the best interests of the Department or of the public. Starting on 1st April 1965 therefore all fire and ambulance services on the mainland are to be placed under the command of a single Chief Fire and Ambulance Officer. Concurrently with this change, Hong Kong island, together with offshore islands and all marine risks is to be placed under the command of another Chief Fire and Ambulance Officer. The other matter, which is now receiving attention, is the position of the Ambulance Service; this is elaborated in paragraph 21. There have

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