Fire Prevention

The department formulates and enforces fire safety policies and
regulations. It also assists and advises the public on fire protection
measures and the abatement of fire hazards. The Fire Protection
Command places great emphasis on public education on fire prevention.

A Community Relations Unit was set up in September to strengthen
community education and relations, with a view to arousing the fire safety
awareness of the public. The 'Fire Safety Ambassador' scheme launched
in May aims to provide fire safety training to members of the community,
who will then disseminate such knowledge and skills generally. To kick
off the scheme, boy scouts, girl guides and members of the department's
Public Liaison Group were trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors.
Arrangement was also made with the Housing Department to conduct
'Train-the-trainer' courses for members of the Estate Management
Advisory Committee, who will then provide training to the residents of
various public housing estates. The scheme will be extended to other
sectors of the community. At the end of 1997, 534 persons had been
trained as Fire Safety Ambassadors and trainers.

A fire prevention campaign with the theme 'Fire Safety in Commercial
Buildings and Industrial Buildings' was launched on November 30. The
Fire Protection Command produced 2 000 video tapes and 20 000 fire
safety pamphlets for distribution to the management bodies of the
commercial and industrial sectors and the public respectively. Other
publicity activities included broadcast of fire safety messages through
radio before and after the launching of the ceremony, fire station open
days and exhibitions.

Fire officers gave 857 fire prevention talks to people from different
sectors of the community. They were supplemented by exhibitions and
demonstrations. Fire Services personnel inspected 113 244 premises of all
types and issued 7 582 fire hazard abatement notices for the removal of
fire hazards during the year. These helped to ensure that fire prevention
measures met the required standards and to enhance public awareness of
fire safety. There were 297 prosecutions in cases of non-compliance,
with fines amounting to $1,484,020. Prosecutions for obstructing the
means of escape in buildings resulted in 159 convictions, with fines
totalling $792,260.

After the tragic fires at the Garley Building and a karaoke establishment in
Tsim Sha Tsui, new legislation was planned to improve fire safety
measures in old commercial buildings and karaoke establishments. Before
it is enacted, the department will step up inspections and conduct surveys
to different types of buildings, with a view to ensuring that fire safety
standards in these buildings are properly maintained.

The Fire Protection Command also sets fire services requirements for
new buildings to ensure proper protection for the public. Some 9 564
submissions of building plans, including plans for new airport-related
projects, were processed during the year.

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