Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says the bureau has recommended $89 million be earmarked in 2010-11 to procure fire tunics and overtrousers that offer firefighters greater protection.

Mr Lee today told lawmakers the Government has allocated funding to the Fire Services Department in a timely manner to buy the equipment.

More than $290 million has been earmarked in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for the procurement of fire appliances and equipment, he added.

After the No. 4 Alarm Fire in the industrial building in Cheung Sha Wan, the department will conduct a survey of all industrial buildings to assess their current fire-safety conditions and examine whether it is necessary to introduce improvement measures. It will take fire-hazard abatement action on the industrial buildings surveyed.

In the new financial year, 10 additional posts will be created to enhance live-fire and rescue training for frontline firefighters.

To strengthen ambulance services' management functions and increase ambulance shifts, the department will create 44 additional ambulance officer and ambulanceman posts.

The Government also plans to report the outcome of the consultation on the proposal of implementing a medical priority dispatch system in Hong Kong, and the proposed way forward, to the Legislative Council's Panel on Security in April.