E
f
:
33. In the year under review, there were 21,506 emergency calls involving 22,392 patients. In addition, 27,114 removals involving 35,496 patients were made. The total mileage for both services was 482,944. Charges were made for removals and the revenue collected amounted to $57,590.
34. Compared with the previous year, emergency and removal calls to which the service responded increased by 1,479 and 3,728 respectively, a detailed summary of calls received and number of patients conveyed is shown at Appendix III.
TRAINING
35. Personnel recruited to the following grades continued to receive training as follows:
Sub-officers
Firemen
Seamen
34 months
3 months 14 months
36. In past years, due to lack of space, training was carried out in fire stations. This made large scale exercises virtually impossible. During the year, a temporary training school was established in the ex Naval Camber at Canton Road, Kowloon. There, despite the age and general unsuitability of the buildings, it has been possible to hold training classes of over 100 recruits. Moreover, the proximity of the waterfront has made training in pump operations possible,
37. The training curriculum includes lectures in firemanship in addi- tion to practical drills. Instructors for these courses are qualified Station Officers and Sub-officers.
WELFARE
38. The Fire Services Welfare Fund, receipts of which principally come from charges for services rendered to the public in the form of duties performed at matshed theatres, etc. was well maintained. Dis- bursements for various purposes connected with the welfare of the members of the Department amounted to $13,735.96 and the excess of income over expenditure was $9,690.88. $60,460.14 was brought forward from the previous year and the total sum deposited in the Treasury at 31st March, 1961 was $27,885.11. The value of local investments was $12,800. A statement of receipts and payments covering the transactions of the fund for the period 1st April, 1960 to 31st March, 1961 as audited by the Director of Audit is shown at Appendix IV.
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