ENG-2000 — Page 395

PUBLIC ORDER

Communication

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

The centre is equipped with a computerised mobilising system linked to all fire stations, ambulance depots and fireboat stations. With the commissioning of a new Incident Location Indication System in April, the operational efficiency has been improved as the console operators in the centre could ascertain the incident address in about 15 seconds by making reference to only the name of the building, fire hydrant number or lamp post number.

A consultancy study on a Third Generation Mobilising System was completed in April. The system design was completed and the tender for the design and building of the new system was gazetted in September. The new system, expected to be commissioned in 2003, will enhance the capability and efficiency in mobilisation and communication to meet anticipated demand over the next 10 years.

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 department places great emphasis on public education in fire prevention.

The Community Relations Division is responsible for enhancing the public's knowledge of fire safety and for co-ordinating with other government departments and district fire safety committees in stepping up fire prevention publicity in the community. In 2000, it helped to arrange 2 441 fire drills at various locations and gave 2 771 fire prevention talks to people from various sectors of the community.

The Commercial Buildings and Premises Division enforces the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance to upgrade the fire safety measures of specified commercial buildings and prescribed commercial premises. The Fire Safety Improvement Loan Scheme provides financial assistance to those owners who are required under this ordinance to upgrade the fire safety measures of their buildings or premises.

The Building Improvement and Support Division is responsible for preparing new legislation to upgrade the fire safety standard of old composite buildings and domestic buildings. Pending enactment of new legislation, a 'Building Fire Safety Inspection Force' was established in July to step up inspections of old private buildings and take appropriate enforcement action. The division also continues to carry out follow-up inspection and enforcement work against fire safety irregularities in private buildings identified in a Hong Kong-wide building survey conducted in 1998.

In order to enrol more members to assist in reporting fire hazards and disseminating fire prevention messages, the 'Fire Safety Ambassador' Scheme has been extended to 54 other organisations, including schools, public transportation companies and major property management companies. At the end of the year, a total of 15 616 people had been trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors.

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