ENG-1998 — Page 378

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PUBLIC ORDER

Non-emergency ambulance services involving conveyance to/from public hospitals. were transferred to the Hospital Authority in October 1995, and in April 1997 the Auxiliary Medical Service took over other non-emergency ambulance services.

Twelve-minute response time has been adopted as the performance indicator of emergency ambulance services from November 1998. All ambulances have been equipped with automatic external defibrillators and 10 additional ambulance aid motorcycles have been put into commission since March 1998.

The programme to commission the third Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre to strengthen the ability of the Fire Services Department to handle multiple-casualty incidents will be completed in 1999/2000. There are also plans to extend the paramedic ambulance service by increasing the number of vehicles and qualified personnel.

Communication

The Fire Services Communication Centre is responsible for mobilising all fire-fighting and ambulance resources, and receiving complaints of fire hazards and dangerous goods in the territory. It also acts as an emergency co-ordinator for other government departments and public utilities during the operation of major incidents.

The centre is equipped with a computerised mobilising system linked to all fire stations, ambulance depots and fireboat fire stations. To enhance the efficiency of responses to emergency calls, a new Address Transmission System is being set up to provide operational staff with a hard copy of the address of an incident before responding to an emergency. With the address printed out, the responding crews can attend to the incident more expeditiously. The system is expected to be commissioned in early 1999.

Fire Prevention

The department formulates and enforces fire safety policies and regulations. It also helps and advises the public on fire protection measures and the abatement of fire hazards. The Fire Protection Command places great emphasis on public education on fire prevention.

A new Fire Safety Task Force comprising a Community Relations Division and a Legislation and Control Division was set up in April. Officers of the Community Relations Division helped arrange 1 138 fire drills at various locations and gave 1 353 fire prevention talks to people from different sectors of the community. The Legislation and Control Division enforces the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance to upgrade the fire safety measures of prescribed commercial premises and old prescribed commercial buildings. A Fire Safety Improvement Loan Scheme was established in June to provide financial assistance to owners who are required under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance to upgrade the fire safety measures of prescribed commercial premises and specified commercial buildings.

In order to enrol more members to assist in reporting fire hazards and disseminating fire prevention messages, in addition to the Scouts Association of HK, Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and the Estate Management Advisory Committee, the 'Fire Safety Ambassador' Scheme has been extended to members of the Civil Aid Service and Auxiliary Medical Service. At the end of 1998, a total of 4 335 people had been trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors.