ENG-1988 — Page 296

PUBLIC ORDER

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Voluntary agencies operating in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees continue to provide services to refugees in closed centres. The department is working closely with the UNHCR and Security Branch on the gradual liberalisation of the closed centres. Services such as educational classes and work programmes for Vietnamese boat people and illegal immigrants in detention centres are provided by the Correctional Services Department.

Staff Training

The department's Staff Training Institute provides training for both new and serving officers. All recruit assistant officers and officers go through a 26-weeks orientation training programme, followed by a further five-weeks training prior to completion of probation. The syllabus includes a study of the Laws of Hong Kong, foot-drill, self-defence, weaponry, riot-drill, first-aid, criminology and penology, basic psychology and social work.

Development training and job-oriented courses are provided throughout the year to all serving officers to update their professional knowledge, prepare them for promotion and equip selected officers for duties in specialised fields such as counselling, aftercare, nursing, psychological services and physical education. Weekly in-service training is also conducted within institutions to cater for the needs of individual institutions.

Society for the Rehabilitation of Offenders

The Society for the Rehabilitation of Offenders, Hong Kong, is a voluntary organisation. Founded in 1957 as the Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, it provides care and supervision for ex-offenders who are given non-custodial sentences and persons released from prisons. Services provided include casework, group work, counselling, hostel accom- modation, employment guidance, recreational activities and care for those who have a history of mental illness.

Fire Services

During the year, the Fire Services Department answered and handled 21 495 fire calls, 13 642 special service calls, and 300 693 emergency and 119 909 non-emergency ambulance calls. Fire caused 22 deaths, and injured 620 people, including 34 firemen. A total of 2 041 persons were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by Fire Services personnel.

Buildings and Quarters

In line with the government policy to provide an emergency response to all areas within minimum set times according to the category of risk, two new fire stations and one ambulance depot were commissioned in 1988. These were Junk Bay Fire Station, Tai Po East Fire Station and Junk Bay Ambulance Depot. Yuen Long Fire Station and Yuen Long Ambulance Depot were reprovisioned to improve services in Yuen Long area and a four-storey rescue-training centre was also provided in the New Territories. There are now 58 fire stations, 23 ambulance depots-stations and five fireboat stations in the territory. A 160-unit rank-and-file married quarters was completed and occupied during the year and planning was in hand for the provision of about 1 400 additional married quarters for firemen and ambulancemen at selected sites.

Fire Prevention

The department is responsible for enforcing fire-safety regulations. It also advises and assists all sections of the community with regard to fire protection measures generally and