ENG-2007 — Page 380

324 Public Order

The Building Improvement and Support Division is responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance which came into effect on July 1, 2007 to step up fire safety measures for pre-1987 domestic buildings and composite buildings.

A Building Safety Loan Scheme, administered by the Director of Buildings, was established to provide financial assistance to owners to carry out building safety and fire safety improvement works, either on a voluntary basis or as required by law. A total of 3 764 applications for such aid have been approved.

The New Projects Division, in cooperation with the Buildings Department and other departments, is responsible for vetting new building plans including those for mass transit systems, tunnels, bridges and at the airport. It also defines the fire protection needs of a particular premises. A total of 12 683 building plans were vetted during the year.

The Railway Development Strategy Division defines and scrutinises the fire safety requirements of new railway infrastructure projects. Submissions in respect of the South Island Line, the Sha Tin-to-Central Link and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link have been processed.

The Community Relations Section is responsible for improving the public's knowledge of fire safety and for coordinating publicity about fire prevention in collaboration with other government departments and the District Fire Safety Committees. In 2007, a total of 1 359 fire drills and 4 476 fire safety talks and seminars were conducted by the section and fire stations.

A total of 10 816 people were trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors during the year. In addition, Fire Safety Ambassador Honorary Presidents' Associations have been set up in 18 districts across the territory with 264 community leaders appointed as honorary presidents.

A major fire prevention campaign focusing on 'building fire safety' was launched on November 4, featuring a series of publicity activities, including dissemination of fire safety messages on television and radio, and fire station open days.

The Licensing and Certification Command determines the fire safety needs of various types of licensed premises, as well as dangerous goods stores and vehicles, to ensure proper protection for the public. The command continued to work with the Efficiency Unit and Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit to further streamline the licensing process.

Fire Services personnel conducted 172 492 fire safety inspections and issued 2 996 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices. There were 597 prosecutions for contravention of the Fire Services Ordinance, the Dangerous Goods Ordinance and the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance, which resulted in fines totalling $1.3 million. Direct prosecutions for obstructing fire escape routes in buildings resulted in 47 convictions and fines totalling $188,700. Prosecutions for illicit fuel activities resulted in 92 convictions.