Sessional_Paper_1949 — Page 27

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subject to inspection at any time by authorized inspectors. We do not think that such a system of registration would impose any undue hardship on godown-proprietors, (we understand that the Fire Insurance Association has recently requested all godown pro- prietors to register their godowns voluntarily with the Association), nor do we think that it would be administratively impracticable. Such a system of registration with concomitant powers of inspection from time to time would certainly give the Chief Officer much more power to ensure the enforcement of the storage regulations, which in our opinion are an essential part of the fire prevention service. The number of large godowns in the Colony is not very great, but we were unable to ascertain the number of smaller storage places which could be classified as godowns or warehouses. It should 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 dangerous 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 inclu- sive, 4,089 inspections were carried out by Fire Brigade officers, of which about 1,700 were connected specifically with the enforcement of regulations in regard to storage of dangerous goods. The mere number of inspections 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 Regula- tions 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 prevention. We understand that the Chief Officer already had similar proposals in view, and that he considered seven qualified inspectors would be sufficient for the duties which they would be called upon to perform. 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 addi- tional clerical assistance, accommodation expenses, etc., the annual cost would probably be somewhat greater. We feel however that the cost of such a service would be small in comparison with its value to the community in general. We considered whether the Fire Insurance Association should be asked to contribute to the cost, as it would be the most immediate beneficiary, but we recommend that as the public would in the long run benefit, the full cost should fall upon public funds. We regard it as of importance that the best possible training should be given to these officers, and that they should possess an adequate knowledge of chemicals. It is important that the officer in charge of the fire preventive service should be particularly well experienced and qualified in this type of work.

Cooperation Between the Fire Insurance Association and the Fire Brigade:

85. We recommend moreover that the Fire Insurance Companies, who by the nature of their business must have special knowledge of the safest methods of storage and who must have occasion to inspect storage facilities when assessing fire risks, should co-operate closely with the Fire Brigade in preventive measures. There should be full exchange of information, which is the basis of a mutual trust now, in our view, lacking.

"First-Aid" Fire Prevention:

86. During the course of the inquiry we heard some observations on the provi- sion of fire buckets, extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fireproof rooms, etc., that is to say, "first-aid" measures in the case of fire. These matters are no doubt always in the