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Public Order

To enhance fire safety of old buildings, FSD and the Buildings Department have commenced a joint operation to inspect the common means of escape of about 6,500 target buildings and take enforcement action to eradicate potential fire hazards. By the end of 2013, 5,310 target buildings had been inspected. Other irregularities such as 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 972 fire appliances, ambulances and supporting vehicles and 21 fireboats to provide fire-fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services.

New Development

The department continues 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 July, the new Kai Tak Fire Station at Cheung Yip Street 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, is under way 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.

Government Flying Service

The Government Flying Service (GFS) provides a wide range of flying services, including round- the-clock search and rescue coverage, casualty and medical evacuation, fire fighting and support for other government departments.

The GFS has an establishment of 170 disciplined and 57 civilian staff, and operates a fleet of four fixed-wing aircraft and seven helicopters. In 2013, it flew a total of 6,272 hours, assisted in 496 search and rescue operations and transported 2,040 people to hospitals by helicopters. It also flew 9,172 government officers and official visitors in the course of their duties and visit programmes. In addition, auxiliary flying doctors and nurses flew a total of 468 hours in 637 operations.

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