ENG-1992 — Page 325

PUBLIC ORDER

Plans for new buildings are vetted by the department, and during this process requirements for built-in fire protection are specified and advice is given. Some 7 100 submissions of building plans were processed during the year.

Upon the enactment of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance and the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance in 1991, six fire protection officers were deployed to assist the controlling authority, the Secretary for Home Affairs, in the licensing process on fire safety matters. In 1992, a total of 776 and 1 685 inspections were made by fire officers to hotels/guesthouses and club establishments respectively. Requirements to upgrade fire safety measures in these premises to current standards were also issued.

Ambulance Services

The Ambulance Service, staffed by 2 063 uniformed personnel and 153 civilians, operates 281 ambulances and ambulance-aided motorcycles from 29 depots/stations throughout the territory and from many fire stations.

During the year, the service handled a total of 423 982 emergency and non-emergency calls providing assistance to 546 352 people, representing an average of 1 158 calls per day.

Facilities on ambulances are constantly reviewed and all ambulances are equipped with analgesic apparatus, piped oxygen, inflatable splints, special stretchers and incubator- carrying capability.

A radio/telephone patching system was installed in the Fire Services Communication Centre to enable interactive communication between ambulances and major hospitals.

A group of ambulance personnel were trained in the use of automatic advisory defibrillators to handle patients/casualties suffering from heart attacks. Since December 1991, all ambulance-aid motorcycles have been equipped with defibrillators.

Plans have been formulated to enhance the standard of ambulance service to paramedic level. Two ambulance officers have been sent to the Academy, Institute of Justice, British Columbia, Canada, for paramedic training. These officers will be involved in the planning of locally-organised paramedic training courses.

With a view to better utilising ambulance resources, the department is planning to hive off the non-emergency ambulance service to the Hospital Authority in phases.

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. During the year, 50 new or replacement appliances and vehicles of various kinds were put into service.

The department is constantly evaluating new products from different parts of the world to see if they can be used locally. A new type of pumping appliance, which has excellent road holding characteristics and exceptional manoeuvrability, will be introduced to Hong Kong.

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

Communications

The computer based mobilising and communication system installed in the Fire Services Communication Centre enables rescue and ambulance resources to be mobilised efficiently

271