FIRE BRIGADE ORDINANCE, 1868

FIRE BRIGADE ORDINANCE, 1868

No.2 of 1868.

For the establishment of a Fire Brigade. [23rd May,1868.]
WHEREAS it is expedient to make further provision for the protection
of life and property from fire:-
1.The Fire Brigade Ordinance, 1868.
2.It shall be lawful for the Governor to select from the police
and any others volunteering for the duty a force to whom shall
be entrusted the duty of extinguishing fires and protecting life
and property in case of fire,and to furnish the said force with such
fire-engines,horses,accoutrements,tools,and implements as may
be necessary for the complete equipment of the said fprce or con-
ducive to the efficient performance of its duties.
3.-(1)The force shall be called 'The Hongkong Fire
Brigade',and shall be under the command of an officer to be
called 'The Superintendent of the Hongkong Fire Brigade'.
(2)The Superintendent and men composing the said Brigade
shall be appointed and removed at the pleasure of the Governor.
4.The Governor-in-Council shall fix the amount of salaries and
working-pay to be payable to members of the Fire Brigade,and
may also make regulations fixing the amount of compensation to be
made to them in case of accident or to their wives or families in
case of their death,and likewise the gratuities to be paid to persons
giving notices of fires,and those to be awarded to any member of
the said Brigade or to any other person for extraordinary services
performed in cases of fire;and the Treasurer is hereby authorised
to make all payments so ordered by the Governor-in-Council.
5.-(1)The Superintendent may make regulations,subject to
the approval of the Governor-in-Council,for the general manage-
ment and discipline of the Brigade and may impose penalties not
exceeding 25 dollars,or punishment by confinement to station for
a period not exceeding one week,for any breach of such regula-
tions.
Any member of the Brigade who refuses to pay any such penalty
or to undergo any such punishment shall be liable to instant
dismissal by the Govenor.
(2)The Superintendent may,without reference to the Governor,
but subject always to disallowance or revision by the Governor,
make departmental orders for the efficient working of the Brogade,
the due regulation of the internal economy thereof,and the carry-
ing out of the daily routine of the Brigade.
6.-(1) On the accasion of a fire, the Superintendent or other
officer in charge of the Brigade may take the command of any
volunteer fire brigade or other persons Ao voluntarily place their
services at his disposal, and may remove or order any fireman to
remove any persons interfering by their presence with the opera-
tions of the Brigade, and generally may take such meassures as
may appear expedient for the protection of life and, property, and
may, by himself or by his men,break into or through and take
possession of, or blow up with gunpowder or pull down, any pre-
mises for the purpose of putting an end to a fire.
(2)The Superintendent of the Brigade or other officer in charge
thereof may close any street in or near which a fire is burning, and
may remove any pesons who interfere by their presence with the
operations of the Brigade.
(3) Any officer or member of the Brigade acting bona fide under
the powers conferred by this Ordinance shall not be liable to any
action for damages for any act done under this section.
(4) Any damage occasioned by the Brigade in the execution of
their duties shall be deemed to be damade by fire within the mean-
ing of any policy of insurance against fire.

7. Every person who is required by the Superintendent or officer
for the time being in charge of the Brigade to co-operate with any
Fire Brigade, whether consisting of volunteers or not, so that the
same are approved by the Governor, or in the, working of any fire
engine, or in the suppression of fire shall be bound to obey such
requisition, under a penalty, for every case at disobedience, recover-
able on summary conviction, not exceeding 50 dollars.
[s. 8 rep. No. 1 of 1908.]
Short title. Selection and equipment of Fire Brigade. Constitution of Brigade. Fixing of salaries, etc., of members of Brigade. Regulations. Departmental orders. Powers of Superintendent, officers, and members of Brigade.
Power to require persons to cooperate with Brigade.

Short title. Selection and equipment of Fire Brigade. Constitution of Brigade. Fixing of salaries, etc., of members of Brigade. Regulations. Departmental orders. Powers of Superintendent, officers, and members of Brigade.
Power to require persons to cooperate with Brigade.

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/784

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