ENG-1987 — Page 277

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PUBLIC ORDER

educating the public on fire prevention. Publicity campaigns launched during the year increased the community's awareness of fire safety, resulting in requests for more fire prevention lectures, exhibitions and demonstrations from kaifong associations, rural committees, schools and community groups. The number of complaints - 6 813 - received from members of the public was seen as an indication of the level of public concern over potential fire hazards and a growing awareness of the services provided by the department.

Direct prosecution of cases of obstruction to means of escape and indiscriminate blocking of fire exits in multi-storey buildings began at the beginning of the year. Fire Services personnel made 79 157 inspections of all types of premises and, where fire hazards were found, abatement notices or summonses were issued. There were 1 323 prosecutions for non-compliance with abatement notices and for summonses resulting in fines amount- ing to $2.95 million. All new building plans are vetted by the department, which specifies the requirements for built-in fire protection and advises on related matters. Some 9 258 new building plans were processed during the year. The department is also responsible for carrying out research into matters associated with fire safety.

Ambulance Services

The Fire Services Department operates the government ambulance service with a strength of 1 833 in all ranks of uniformed staff, and 147 civilian employees. The service operates 228 ambulances from 22 ambulance depots or stations throughout the territory and from 16 fire stations. During the year, 281 401 emergency calls and 119 636 non-emergency calls, involving 510 048 people, were handled - representing an average of 1 099 calls every 24 hours. The number of calls represents an increase of 9.7 per cent over that in 1986. Facilities in ambulance are constantly reviewed and all ambulances are equipped with analgesic apparatus, piped oxygen, inflatable splints, special stretchers and incubator-carrying capability. Following the advice of the Executive Council on the Review of Hong Kong Ambulance Service in April, the government adopted in principle the major recommenda- tions of the Health Operational Research Unit Consultancy on improvements to the ambulance service. A programme to implement the recommendations has been prepared.

Appliances and Workshops

The department has some 700 modern operational appliances and vehicles fitted with up-to-date fire-fighting and rescue equipment to ensure that fast and efficient fire-fighting and rescue operations can be carried out. Thirty-two new or replacement appliances and vehicles of various kinds were put into service. The six mini-appliances purchased in 1986 specially for outlying islands proved to be successful. Three more mini-appliances were ordered for use on Lamma Island. The department is constantly evaluating new products from different parts of the world with a view to introducing them into service if they meet local requirements.

To maintain its fleet of fire appliances and rescue equipment, the department operates three workshops, one each in the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories regions.

Staff Training

All recruits except those in the specialist communications ranks of senior fireman (control) and senior firewoman (control) are trained at the Fire Services Training School at Pat Heung in the New Territories. The courses vary in content and last from eight to 26 weeks. The training of senior firemen (control) and senior firewomen (control) is conducted at the