ENG-1989 — Page 309

PUBLIC ORDER

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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. A new workshop in Kowloon Bay is under construction and is expected to become operational early in 1990.

Communications

Installation of the Second Generation Mobilising System is progressing smoothly in the Fire Services Headquarters Building and is expected to come into operation 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 road. The time taken to handle incoming emergency calls and despatch the fire appliances will thus be cut to well under 60 seconds in most cases.

In order to improve the coverage of the present fire services radio system, the installation of three additional hilltop radio repeaters at Castle Peak, Shek Uk Shan and Pottinger Peak is underway. The cost for this project is around $2.8 million. These three radio repeaters will be in use early in 1990.

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 three to 26 weeks.

The training of senior firemen (control) and senior firewomen (control) is conducted at the Fire Services Communication Centre in Kowloon by instructors from the centre.

During the year, 363 recruits completed initial training. The school also conducted basic courses on fire fighting and on the use of breathing apparatus for government departments and private organisations. Some 563 people attended these courses during the year. A total of 331 ambulance personnel completed refresher courses at Cheung Sha Wan Ambulance Depot. Fire protection courses were conducted at Fire Services Headquarters for 35 senior station officers and station officers. The Driving Training School conducted courses for 955 officers and other ranks.

Establishment and Recruitment

The uniformed establishment of the department at the end of 1989 totalled 7020. The number of civilian staff of the department increased to 705. Recruitment exercises were held, resulting in the appointment of 25 officers, 252 firemen, eight ambulance officers and 196 ambulancemen. Standards are high and on average only about 10 per cent of all applicants are accepted for appointment.

Immigration Department

The Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order in Hong Kong.

Immigration Control

Through examination at control points and vetting of visa applications, undesirable persons including international criminals, terrorists and other persona non grata are detected and refused entry into Hong Kong. In 1989, 42 793 such travellers and persons