ENG-1971 — Page 206

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PUBLIC ORDER

After many years of campaigning to educate the public on fire precautions it appears that some success is now being achieved. It is pleasing to note that people are coming forward to seek advice and to complain of fire hazards. One unfortunate aspect is that in the past many hazards were created through ignorance, whereas now many appear to be deliberately created for various reasons, including financial gain. The most common one is the storage of goods on staircases and corridors in industrial premises. The majority of fire hazards are abated by request or persuasion but where this has no effect, it is necessary to resort to the law. During the year 1,442 cases were prosecuted resulting in a total of $379,370 being imposed in fines.

An increase of 35.6 per cent in special service calls (emergencies other than fires, where Fire Services assistance is required) was recorded this year. People trapped in lifts, crashed vehicles, land- slides, collapsed houses and similar incidents all require the prompt response of Fire Service personnel, specialised equipment and techniques. Figures for this type of incident show that in 1971 149 people died, 824 were injured and 4,062 were rescued. Scuba divers made 23 operational dives in the harbour or reservoirs.

During typhoon Rose in August firemen and ambulancemen throughout the Colony carried out their tasks with commendable courage. Over 800 calls were received and dealt with and the firemen often worked at considerable risk to themselves to bring relief to those in distress. Nine members of the service were injured, and 23 fire appliances and 43 ambulances were damaged, two of the ambu- lances being blown off the road by high winds.

Ambulance calls for the year were a record 85,305; of these 53,093 were for accidents and emergencies. This increase was anticipated and the trend is expected to continue. The ambulance service has been the subject of a survey in depth and its future needs have been catered for in a development report which is at present being con- sidered by the Government.

PREVENTIVE SERVICE

The Preventive Service, comprising almost 1,000 officers, is a uniformed and disciplined division of the Commerce and Industry Department. It is generally responsible for the protection of revenue collected on the five categories of goods which are dutiable—alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oils, table waters and methyl alcohol. Physical controls over the import, export, manufacture, storage and sale of these goods are administered by the service. The success of their