ENG-2003 — Page 401

PUBLIC ORDER

Measures Against SARS

During the SARS outbreak, the Immigration Department worked closely with the Department of Health, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service in implementing various health measures at immigration control points to guard against the disease.

At the airport, all travellers, including arriving, departing and transit passengers, were required to complete health declaration forms and be subject to temperature screening. All staff members were also given temperature checks before entering the restricted area of the Passenger Terminal Building.

At the boundary control points, all arriving passengers, including cross-boundary drivers, were required to submit health declaration forms and be subject to temperature screening. Passengers arriving on board overseas or locally based cruise liners on destination trips, and Mainland/Macau ferries were required to submit health declaration forms. All arriving and departing passengers travelling through the two cross-boundary ferry terminals were subject to temperature checks.

In order to provide better protection for the public and immigration staff, protective front panels were installed at clearance counters of all control points, crew counters at the airport and counters of public-oriented offices to prevent transmission of SARS by respiratory droplets.

In addition to the provision of sufficient protective gear to front-line staff in case of need, work in maintaining the cleanliness of office premises was stepped up. Procedures were also drawn up for handling suspected SARS patients.

Fire Services

The Fire Services Department fights fires, protects life and property in case of fires and other calamities, provides emergency ambulance services and gives fire protection advice to the public.

The department's establishment of staff comprises 8 688 uniformed and 659 civilian members. It is one of the world's finest fire brigades, with well-trained personnel, advanced communication systems, and modern equipment and appliances.

The department responded to 37 774 fire calls, 19918 special service calls and 526 565 ambulance calls in 2003, representing an average of 1 600 calls a day.

Fire Suppression

Of the 37 774 fire calls received in 2003, 11 were classified as major fires of No. 3 alarm. Careless handling or disposal of smoking materials was still the major cause of fires, totalling 3 160 cases in all, followed by accidents involving the preparation of foodstuffs and electrical faults, which accounted for 2 563 and 863 cases, respectively. Unwanted alarms, caused mainly by faulty automatic alarm systems or poor positioning of such systems, contributed to 64.7 per cent of the total number of fire calls.

Two fatal fires involving improper use and excessive storage of inflammable substances in industrial buildings occurred on April 25 and May 10, both in Kwai Chung. The two No. 3 alarm fires caused the deaths of four people and injuries to 14 others, including two firemen.

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