ENG-1978 — Page 190

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PUBLIC ORDER

Prison Industries Prison industries play their part in the occupation and rehabilitation of prisoners and inmates, and the resulting production meets the needs of some government and sub- vented organisations. The production value in 1978 was $17.9 million, compared with $14.9 million in 1977.

During 1978 a newly-appointed general manager began planning and implementing a comprehensive expansion and modernisation programme, based on an investigatory report produced in 1977. A start was made on the recruitment of industrial manage- ment staff in addition to more and better qualified supervisory and instructional staff to operate at institutional level. With the input of more capital and management resources, the objective is to increase output substantially both in quantity and quality.

Staff Training

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The Staff Training Institute conducts one-year recruit courses, which include a period of field training for officers and assistant officers. Refresher and specialised continua- tion courses are organised for staff of all ranks, to supplement in-service training at institutions.

A number of senior officers have attended courses overseas and others have attended specialist training courses with the Medical and Health Department, the Social Welfare Department and at the University of Hong Kong.

Of late, pressure on accommodation at the Staff Training Institute has been so great that it became necessary to open a training camp in vacated barrack accommodation at Tai Lam. However, following recent staff increases, approval has been given for the building of an extension to the institute that will include additional classrooms, an indoor firing range, a mock court, control room and cell. Additional student accommodation will also be built.

Staff Welfare

The department's Staff Welfare Officer visits all institutions regularly, and maintains close liaison with resident officers who have welfare duties. This member of the staff assists officers and their families with 'personal, financial and domestic problems. Social functions, sporting activities and staff outings, both on an institutional and departmental basis, are an important and regular feature of life in the department.

Fire Services

The Fire Services Department answered a total of 10,838 fire calls in 1978 - a drop of 244 compared with the record total of 11,082 in 1977. This was the first year since 1974 that there had been a reduction in the annual total of fire calls, and it was attributed to weather conditions which resulted in fewer countryside fires. Unfortun- ately there was no reduction in major fires. In the same period, 173,816 ambulance and 4,483 special service calls were also handled.

Fires caused 29 deaths and injured 596 people, including 113 firemen. A total of 320 people were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by firemen.

An analysis of supposed causes of fire in 1978 revealed that careless handling of smoking materials, other sources of ignition and electrical faults caused 5,233 fires.