have been selected and recruitment to fill the fourth post is proceeding. Local recruitment was not up to the standard expected, especially in the case of firemen and watchkeepers.
APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT
14. All fire appliances and equipment were regularly tested, overhauled and maintained in an efficient and good working order by the mechanical staff of the Brigade.
15. Two Land Rover fire appliances were received from the United Kingdom and allocated to the sub-stations in the New Territories. Two pump-escapes as replacements and one pump- escape for Yuen Long District were ordered.
16. The radio telephone net-work, consisting of 2 fixed main ground stations, 8 mobile units and 10 pack sets, was in full operation throughout the year. The system is of great advan- tage when working at large fires, etc. where no other means of communication is available.
FIRE BOATS
17.
The Brigade has a fleet of 3 fire boats, consisting of the "Alexander Grantham" and two smaller vessels with which it was possible to cope with all fires that broke out on board ships in the harbour. These craft were also used for relaying water for fighting fire on land where difficulty arose from water restrictions. These fire boats were regularly slipped, over- hauled and maintained by the Marine Department.
HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY
18. Fire hydrants, both pedestal and ground, were inspected quarterly and all defects reported to the Water Authority for repairs to be effected.
19. By the end of the year, new installations and replace- ments had brought the total number of pedestal and ground hydrants to 690 and 1,285 respectively.
20. Throughout the year, the Water Authority provided turn-cocks at fire stations to allow water valves to be operated during the hours when the water supply was restricted. These arrangements do not prove entirely satisfactory, as in the early stages of fire fighting water restrictions do retard operations
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