ENG-1986 — Page 261

PUBLIC ORDER

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weaponry, riot-drill, first-aid and social sciences, including criminology, psychology and social work.

Development training and job oriented courses are provided throughout the year to all serving officers to update professional knowledge, prepare officers for promotion and equip selected officers for duties in specialised fields such as counselling, after-care, nursing, psychological services and physical education.

Society for the Rehabilitation of Offenders, Hong Kong

Formerly known as the Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, the Society for the Rehabilitation of Offenders, Hong Kong is a voluntary organisation which provides services for ex-offenders who are given non-custodial sentences and discharged prisoners. The services rendered by the society include casework counselling, hostel accommodation, employment guidance, recreational activities as well as the caring for discharged prisoners who have a history of mental illness.

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Refugees

At the end of 1986, there were 4 226 Vietnamese refugees detained in closed centres managed by the department compared with 4 438 in the previous year. Chi Ma Wan Closed Centre and Hei Ling Chau Closed Centre accommodate South Vietnamese and North Vietnamese respectively. This separation was made necessary following conflict and unrest between the two groups. Tuen Mun Closed Centre houses a mixture of southerners and northerners, including unaccompanied females and minors and family groups who have been carefully selected for their ability to live in harmony with each other. In April, Cape Collinson Correctional Institution ceased to function as a closed centre, when its refugees were transferred to Tuen Mun Closed Centre.

A number of improvement projects have been undertaken to provide additional facilities for education, training and recreation within the closed centres.

The Save the Children Fund, World Relief, the Salvation Army and the International Social Service organise social services, including educational classes, vocational training and recreational activities for the refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has continued to meet the considerable cost of food, medical supplies, utilities and relief items.

Fire Services

During the year, the Fire Services Department answered and handled 18 808 fire calls, 10 895 special service calls and 365 574 ambulance calls. Fires caused 45 deaths, and injured 604 people, including 63 firemen. A total of 736 persons were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by Fire Services personnel.

Legislation

The Fire Services (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill was introduced and passed in 1986, aimed at outlawing the malpractices of causing obstruction to means of escapes and indiscriminate locking of fire exits in multi-storey buildings.

Any breach of this legislation is a direct offence and carries a maximum fine of $25,000 and a $5,000 per day maximum fine for continuance. A second or subsequent offence can result in a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year.

The legislation also stipulates that a person who, having complied with a fire hazard abatement notice, but allows the hazard to recur within 12 months of being served with the notice, will be guilty of an offence.