ENG-2012 — Page 340

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Public Order

The Fire Service Installations Task Force continued to monitor fire safety in buildings and continued to strengthen public awareness of the need to maintain fire service installations (FSI) and equipment in buildings. In 2012, 110,825 inspections were made and 2,086 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices issued. Legal action was taken against nine owners of defective FSI and eight contractors for regulatory contraventions.

Since 2008, the department has adopted a four-pronged approach (publicity, enforcement, checking and partnership) to tackle fire hazards in old buildings proactively and comprehensively. In 2012, this approach was applied to 38 buildings and it had been applied to a total of 140 target buildings by the end of 2012.

Buildings with sub-divided units alongside fixed pitch hawker stalls raise serious fire safety concerns. FSD inspected 339 such buildings between December 2011 and April 2012, and took follow-up action on potential fire hazards and fire safety irregularities. Other irregularities such as unauthorised building works and change of land use were also referred to relevant departments for follow-up.

The department continues to promote fire safety awareness among owners, occupiers and property management staff of industrial buildings and takes enforcement action in those buildings.

Appliances and Equipment

The department has 945 fire appliances, ambulances and supporting vehicles and 21 fireboats provide fire protection and rescue services within Hong Kong waters.

New Development

The department continued to plan and build fire stations and ambulance depots to cope with the city's continuing development and growing service needs, and to adhere to the Government's policy of providing the fastest response possible to emergencies. In September 2012, the new Aberdeen Fire Station-cum-Ambulance Depot at Nam Fung Road came into operation.

The Fire Services Training School in Pat Heung has been in use since 1968. To meet advances in technology and fire-fighting and rescue techniques, construction of a new Fire Services Training School at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, began in August 2012 and is scheduled for completion in late 2015.

Public Liaison Group

A public liaison group comprising 30 members of the public from different walks of life, appointed annually, encourages public participation in monitoring and improving the delivery of emergency fire and ambulance services.

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