ENG-2012 — Page 339

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Public Order

Fire Safety

The Fire Safety Command draws up fire safety policies and formulates fire safety measures for buildings and mass transit systems. it also devotes much of its efforts to upgrading arrangements and procedures to protect old buildings from fire and to raise awareness of fire safety. The command's two Building Improvement Divisions enforce the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance and the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance and investigate reports of fire risks in buildings. The Special Enforcement Unit conducts proactive inspections of old buildings and takes enforcement action against irregularities.

A Building Fire Safety Envoy Scheme trains owners or occupiers of buildings and staff of property management companies as envoys to help promote fire safety in buildings. At the end of 2012, 2,753 envoys had been trained.

The New Projects Division, in collaboration with the Buildings Department and other departments, vets new and amended building plans, including those for the mass transit system, tunnels, bridges and the airport. It also defines the fire protection needs of certain premises. In 2012, the division vetted 14,539 buildings plans.

The Railway Development Strategy Division scrutinises the fire safety requirements and carries out acceptance inspections of fire service installations of new railway projects. To encourage consistent fire safety design for new railway infrastructures, FSD developed a set of guidelines incorporating the latest fire safety measures and taking international standards and local experience into account.

The Support Division formulates, reviews and updates departmental policies on improving fire safety in buildings and strengthening public understanding of the need for fire safety. The division collaborated with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) in producing five episodes of a TV drama, Elite Brigade II, broadcast in February and March 2012, promoting the importance of fire safety and the proper use of emergency ambulance services. RTHK and the division also produced a weekly radio programme, Happy Daily, to enhance public knowledge of fire and ambulance services. The new 52-week series began in May 2012. A TV programme, aimed at promoting public awareness of domestic fire safety and to prevent hill-fires, was produced in October 2012. At the launch of the 2012 Fire Prevention Campaign, appreciation certificates were presented to village representatives from villages with no hill-fires during the Ching Ming Festival in April 2012.

By the end of 2012, 127,666 people had been trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors (FSA) and 335 community leaders appointed as FSA Honorary Presidents.

The Licensing and Certification Command formulates and enforces fire safety policies and regulations. It determines the fire safety needs of various types of licensed premises, dangerous goods stores and vehicles, to ensure proper protection for the public. The command supports the Government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to improve business friendliness, efficiency and transparency without compromising fire safety. It also continued law enforcement action against fire hazards in restaurants, bars and karaoke establishments.

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