ENG-2010 — Page 396

334 Public Order

Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offenders

During 2010, a total of 8 340 charges were laid against people who had committed various immigration offences. These included remaining illegally in Hong Kong, breaching conditions of stay, making false statements or representations, and using or possessing forged travel documents.

The Immigration Ordinance was amended in November 2009 to include a new section 38AA to prohibit illegal immigrants or persons subject to removal or deportation orders from taking up employment, whether paid or unpaid. A total of 161 people were prosecuted under that provision in 2010. In October 2010, the Court of Appeal handed down the sentencing guideline in respect of section 38AA stating that 15 months' imprisonment should be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under the section.

Fire Services

The Fire Services Department (FSD) fights fires, protects life and property in the event of fires and other calamities. It also provides emergency ambulance services, and gives fire protection advice to the public.

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The department has 8 998 uniformed and 642 civilian members and is one of world's finest fire brigades with well-trained personnel, advanced communications systems, and modern equipment and appliances.

The department responded to 40 604 fire calls, 26 859 special service calls and 687 133 ambulance calls in 2010.

Fire-fighting and Rescue

Of the 40 604 fire calls received in 2010, 16 were classified as major fires of No. 3 alarm and above. Accidents occurring during the preparation of foodstuffs was the major cause of fires, accounting for a total of 1 794 cases in 2010, careless handling or disposal of lighted materials caused 1 560 fires, while electrical faults caused 807 fires. Unwanted alarms, triggered mainly by faulty automatic alarm systems, contributed to about 76 per cent of the total number of fire calls.

The department also provides a wide range of rescue services for incidents such as traffic accidents, shipwrecks, people trapped in lifts or locked in rooms, gas leaks, house collapses, flooding, landslides, industrial accidents and attempts by people to jump from heights. The department handled 26 859 of such special service calls in 2010.

Ambulance Services

The Ambulance Command handled 687 133 calls during the year, or on average 1 882 calls per day.

The department's ambulance fleet is fully equipped and manned at paramedic level. All emergency ambulances and emergency medical assistant motorcycles are equipped with automated defibrillators and selected drugs for illness such as diabetes, shock, heart attack, shortness of breath and drug overdose.