ENG-2017 — Page 328

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Public Order

The command's three Building Improvement Divisions enforce the requirements for upgrading the fire safety measures of commercial premises and other commercial, composite and domestic buildings which fall under the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance and Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, investigate reports of fire hazards in buildings, inspect industrial buildings proactively and take 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 promote fire safety in buildings. In 2017, 1,046 envoys were trained.

The New Projects Division works with the Buildings Department and other departments to vet new and amended building plans, including those for tunnels, bridges and the airport. It also defines the requisite fire protection provisions of various kinds of premises. In 2017, the division. vetted 17,179 building plans.

The Railway Development Strategy Division scrutinises the railway infrastructure's fire safety requirements and the associated technical drawings of fire service installations (FSI). It handled 2,454 submissions in 2017. The division also carries out acceptance inspections of FSI at new railway projects, including the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the East West Corridor of the Shatin to Central Link in 2017, and of alteration, addition and improvement works for the existing lines.

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 worked with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) in producing new episodes for the radio programme Happy Daily and TV programme Elite Brigade to enhance public knowledge of fire protection and fire and ambulance services. In 2017, 5,980 people were trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors (FSA). As at end-2017, 415 community leaders had been appointed 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 applied this approach to six target buildings in 2017.

The Licensing and Certification Command regulates the manufacture, storage, conveyance and use of dangerous goods and takes enforcement action against related offences. In 2017, it issued or renewed 4,260 storage licences for dangerous goods or timber, and 2,013 dangerous goods vehicle licences. The command works with other law enforcement agencies to combat illicit fuelling activities, conducting 1,524 related inspections and taking legal action against 101 suspected offenders involving 492,667 litres of diesel in 2017.

The command plays an important role in ensuring building fire safety. It monitors the status of FSI in buildings, handles complaints and oversees the professional standards of registered FSI contractors. In 2017, the command conducted 47,070 compliance inspections on FSI in new buildings and developments. It held another 64,154 inspections on existing FSI, issued 2,566 fire

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