ENG-1991 — Page 325

PUBLIC ORDER

Staff Training

Initial training for all ranks except senior firemen (control) and senior firewomen (control) in the Mobilising and Communications stream are conducted at the Fire Services Training School at Pat Heung in the New Territories. The courses vary in content and range from 3 to 26 weeks in duration. During the year, 152 recruits comprising 68 firemen and 84 ambulancemen successfully completed their 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 871 people attended these courses during the year.

To meet operational needs and career development purposes, 10 officers were sent abroad to attend various management and professional training courses. For in-service training, 122 principal firemen and senior firemen and 31 firemen attended operational command and advanced diving courses respectively. A total of 2 034 ambulance personnel also participated in various ambulance-aid refresher and proficiency courses as well as defibrillation training. The Driving Training School conducted appliance driving and operation courses for 2 179 officers and other ranks during the year.

Establishment and Recruitment

The establishment of uniformed members of the department at the end of 1991 totalled 7 125. The number of civilian staff of the department stood at 730. Continuous recruitment exercises were held throughout the year, resulting in the appointment of 53 station officers, eight ambulance officers, 33 senior firemen (control) and senior firewomen (control), 111 firemen and 72 ambulancemen. Standards are high and on average only eight per cent are accepted for appointment.

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, the department continues to plan and build fire stations and ambulance depots at strategic locations to cope with developing Hong Kong. In 1991, Lam Tin Fire Station, Pillar Point Fire Station, Tin Shui Wai Fire Station, Tin Shui Wai Ambulance Depot and Tsim Tung Ambulance Depot were completed to improve services in these areas. There are now 61 fire stations, 27 ambulance depots/stations and five fireboat stations in the territory. Planning is in hand for the provision of about 980 additonal married quarters for firemen and ambulancemen.

Correctional Services

The Correctional Services Department administers a wide range of programmes for adults, young offenders, drug addicts and the criminally insane. Broadly, three categories of service are provided – custodial, after-care and industries. In addition, the department also manages detention centres for Vietnamese illegal immigrants.

At the end of 1991, the department was managing 19 correctional institutions, three halfway houses, a staff training institute, an escort unit, a custodial ward in Queen Mary Hospital and six detention centres for the Vietnamese. Policy guidance and administrative support is provided from its headquarters. There were 7221 staff looking after 11 570 inmates, 34 291 Vietnamese illegal immigrants, and 3038 persons under after-care supervision.

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