show a great increase in the number of the ambulance calls, patients carried and mileage run. The increase was due to the increase in the population of the Colony together with the increased number of motor vehicles on the road. The mileage covered was 50,894 or 7.7 miles per call.
AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE
38. The Auxiliary Fire Service, a branch of the Essential Services Corps, made good progress during the past year. Recruitment was steady, and the strength at the end of the year stood at 414 with a further 20 applicants awaiting for the results of their medical examination. Mr. Bertram Charles HALE was appointed Superintendent, Auxiliary Fire Service, on 18th March, 1952. Many of the vacant senior positions were filled with men selected from those liable for service under the Compulsory Service Ordinance, 1951. These recruits were mostly chosen for their experience and qualifications in engineering, marine and mechanical fields, and are likely to prove most useful in the work of the Auxiliary Fire Service.
39. Training progressed steadily, special benefit being obtained from the Officers' Intensive Training Class, which was started in December, 1951, and was held every week until March, 1952. Normal training took place on five nights each week, viz., Mondays & Fridays for Kowloon Division, Tuesdays and Thursdays for Hong Kong Division, with Wednesday evenings reserved for the Officers' Training Class.
Training Class. With the increase of personnel, however, and the need for more advanced training with pumps and ladders, it was found that the present training facilities at Arsenal Yard were inadequate, and the ground unsuitable. At the end of the year plans for providing better facilities were under consideration.
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