ENG-2016 — Page 323

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Public Order

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 in producing new episodes for the radio programme Happy Daily to promote public awareness of fire protection and enhance public knowledge of fire and ambulance services. By the end of 2016, 154,043 people had been trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors (FSA) and 406 community leaders had been appointed as FSA Honorary Presidents.

The department adopts a four-pronged approach of fire safety education, enforcement, checking and community partnership to tackle fire hazards in old buildings proactively and comprehensively. It had applied this approach to 213 target buildings by end-2016.

The Licensing and Certification Command formulates and enforces fire safety policies and regulations. The command supports the government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to improve business friendliness, efficiency and transparency without compromising fire safety. It also takes enforcement action against fire hazards in licensed and registered premises.

The Fire Service Installations Task Force monitors the status of FSI in all buildings and strengthens public awareness of the need to maintain FSI in efficient working order. In 2016, the task force made 57,325 FSI inspections and issued 2,561 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices. It took legal action against 23 owners of defective FSI and 11 FSI contractors for regulatory contraventions.

Two Fire Protection Regional Offices advise relevant licensing authorities on fire protection measures and issue Fire Services Certificates or compliance documents relating to the licensing and registration of various types of premises including food premises, places of public entertainment, converted schools, child care centres, massage establishments, and drug dependent persons treatment and rehabilitation centres. The offices carried out 40,122 inspections of such premises and issued 1,509 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices in 2016.

The department combats illicit fuelling activities prohibited under the Dangerous Goods. Ordinance, Dangerous Goods Regulations and Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation. An Anti-illicit Fuelling Activities Task Force, formed in 2015, aims to curb illicit fuelling activities efficiently and effectively through strategic planning and exchange of intelligence with the Customs and Excise Department. By the end of 2016, the task force had conducted 1,531 inspections. Legal action was taken against 91 suspected offenders involving 498,332 litres of diesel.

Appliances and Equipment

The department has 1,048 fire appliances, ambulances and supporting vehicles and 21 fire vessels to provide firefighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services.

New Developments

The department continues to plan and build fire stations and ambulance depots to cope with the territory's development and service needs, and to adhere to the government's policy of providing the fastest response possible to emergencies.

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