ENG-2004 — Page 429

Public Order | 367

Communications

The Fire Services Communication Centre, manned round the clock, is responsible for mobilising all fire-fighting and ambulance resources to provide efficient and effective fire and ambulance services to the community. The centre is also responsible for receiving complaints about fire hazards and dangerous goods. It acts as an emergency coordinator for other Government departments and public utilities in large-scale emergencies or major incidents.

To meet the projected growth of emergency calls over the next 10 years, a $445 million Third Generation Mobilising System is being developed to replace the current Second Generation Mobilising System. The cut-over to the system is expected to start in early 2005, and be implemented in phases.

Fire Safety

The Community Relations Division under the Fire Safety Command is responsible for enhancing the public's knowledge of fire safety and for coordinating actions with other government departments and District Fire Safety Committees in stepping up fire prevention publicity in the community. In 2004, 2 139 fire drills and 6 064 fire safety talks and seminars were conducted by the division and local fire stations for various community sectors.

The Commercial Buildings and Premises Division enforces the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance with the objective of upgrading fire safety measures in specified commercial buildings and prescribed commercial premises. The Director of Buildings administers a Building Safety Loan Scheme, which provides non- means tested loans to individual owners who require financial assistance in carrying out building safety (including fire safety) improvement works, either on a voluntary basis or as required by law. Owners are required to pay interest calculated in accordance with the no-gain, no-loss principle. Those facing hardship, such as the elderly or people with very low incomes, may apply for interest-free loans and longer repayment periods.

To enlist more people to assist in reporting fire hazards and disseminating fire prevention messages, the Fire Safety Ambassador Scheme has been extended to 279 organisations, including schools, public transport companies, major property management companies, government departments, homes for the elderly and hotels. A total of 10 936 people were trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors during the year.

A major fire prevention publicity programme focusing on the upgrading of fire safety measures in buildings was launched on December 5. A series of publicity activities, including broadcast of fire safety messages on television and radio, and fire station open days, was organised. A mobile publicity unit was widely used for promoting fire safety and conducting roving exhibitions at schools and public housing

estates.

The Fire Service Installation Task Force is committed to improving building fire safety and enhancing public awareness of the need to maintain fire service. installations and equipment in buildings. A total of 55 659 inspections were made.