ENG-1978 — Page 191

PUBLIC ORDER

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There was a welcome reduction in the number of fires caused by children playing with matches. During the year, 132 such fires broke out compared with 174 in 1977 and 311 in 1976. Fire prevention publicity seems to have produced positive results in this area. The number of fires involving overturned kerosene stoves, unattended or defective cooking stoves and heaters dropped from 606 in 1977 to 492 in 1978. Fire caused by Liquefied Petroleum Gas also decreased significantly to 48, compared with 99 in 1977. False alarm calls numbered 3,163, of which the great majority were raised with good intent - either by the public or by ultra-sensitive automatic alarm systems.

Buildings and Quarters.

Under the department's development programme to provide emergency response to all areas within certain times and according to the category of risk, two new fire stations and one ambulance depot were commissioned during the year. These were Chung Hom Kok Fire Station on Hong Kong Island, Lei Muk Shue Fire Station in the New Territories and Lei Muk Shue Ambulance Depot. They brought the total number of fire and ambulance stations to 51. A further 13 fire or ambulance stations are included in various categories of the public works programme for construction over the next few years.

At the end of the year, more than 1,140 departmental married quarters were occupied or available for occupation. Construction work on 980 additional married quarters for firemen and ambulancemen is scheduled for completion in early 1979.

Communications System

Work on implementing the first phase of the new communications system was under way in 1978. The phase includes the centralisation of all fire-fighting and ambulance control activities, the installation of semi-automatic vehicle location and status- indicating equipment to improve utilisation of ambulances, and a centrally-operated alarm and voice call-out system to all stations. This will improve and simplify the mobilising of emergency appliances and will result in an improved incident response time.

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Fire Prevention Bureau

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The Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for the enforcement of fire safety regula- tions throughout Hong Kong. It also advises and assists all sections of the community in the abatement and elimination of fire hazards.

During the year the bureau's workload increased substantially with fire prevention lectures, exhibitions and demonstrations frequently conducted in association with kaifongs, rural committees and other community agencies. A greater emphasis is being placed on direct community involvement in fire prevention generally. In fact, the task of educating the public to the dangers of fire and showing them how these can be diminished is a major part of the bureau's work.

Some 8,990 complaints were received from members of the public either by tele- phone, letter or personal visits to fire stations. This was an 85 per cent increase on the previous year's record, and indicated the public's growing awareness of potential fire hazards and their willingness to report them.