ENG-1988 — Page 297

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PUBLIC ORDER

in the abatement of fire hazards. The Fire Protection Bureau plays an important role in educating the public on fire prevention. Publicity campaigns were launched during the year to increase the community's awareness of fire safety, resulting in requests from kaifong associations, rural committees, schools and community groups for more fire prevention lectures-exhibitions and demonstrations. The 8 649 fire-hazard complaints received from members of the public indicated the level of public concern about fire hazards and a growing awareness of the services provided by the department. Direct prosecution for obstruction to means of escape and indiscriminate blocking of fire exits in multi-storey buildings began from the beginning of the year.

Fire Services personnel made 73 165 inspections of all types of premises and issued abatement notices or summonses where fire hazards were found.

There were 1 207 prosecutions in 1988 for non-compliance with abatement notices and for summonses, resulting in fines amounting to about $3.5 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 8 389 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

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The Fire Services Department operates the government ambulance service with a strength of 1 951 in all ranks of uniformed staff, and 147 civilian employees. The service operates 228 ambulances from 23 ambulance depots or stations throughout the territory and from many fire stations. During the year, 300 693 emergency calls and 119 909 non-emergency calls, involving 524 045 people, were handled – representing an average of 1 152.3 calls every 24 hours. This was an increase of 4.9 per cent in the number of calls compared with the total for 1987. Facilities on ambulance are constantly reviewed and all ambulances are equipped with analgesic apparatus, piped oxygen, inflatable splints, special stretchers and incubator- carrying capability.

To provide swift and quality ambulance services to the public, an expansion programme to increase both the personnel and fleet by 10 per cent annually was well under way.

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. In 1988, 41 new or replacement appliances and vehicles of various kinds were put into service. The six mini-appliances purchased in 1986 and 1987 specially for outlying islands proved to be successful. The department is constantly evaluating new products from different parts of the world to see if they could be used here.

To maintain its fleet of fire appliances and rescue equipment, the department operates four workshops - one on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and one in the New Territories.

Communications

Installation of the Second Generation Mobilising System began in the middle of the year and is expected to be completed in 1990. Costing more than $90 million, this new computer-based system will monitor the location and status of fire engines and ambulances at all times. When an emergency occurs, the system will recommend which fire stations and appliances to alert, and will display the position and readiness of vehicles already on the