9. The Airport Fire Contingent was alerted on 84 occasions as a precautionary measure when aircraft were landing. In addition, the Contingent attended a number of special services within the airport, ranging from persons being trapped in lifts to spillage of fuel.
AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE
10. The assistance afforded the Professional Service at major fires and emergencies by the Auxiliaries has again proved invaluable.
11. During Chinese New Year and typhoon 'Wanda', Auxiliaries comprised some 30% of our resources and but for their availability many calls for assistance would have gone unanswered.
12. Tactical fire ground exercises at weekends using professional as well as auxiliary personnel have been especially well attended by the latter whose standard of firemanship has, as a result, improved to a degree where they would be competent to operate alone on many occa- sions.
13. The Emergency Water Relay Officers of the Auxiliary Service have responded to every major fire, and one wonders at times how we managed without them in the past.
14. With the assistance of officers of the New Territories Adminis- tration and the Rural Committees, auxiliaries have been recruited in the smaller islands to augment the regular staff.
15. The Auxiliary Fire Service continues therefore to play an almost indispensable role in the fire defence of the Colony, and a great deal of credit for this satisfactory state of affairs goes to the Commandant and the professional training officers.
MAJOR PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE FIRE
AND AMBULANCE SERVICES
16. Recruitment generally, and to Firemen Class II in particular, was during the first 9 months of the year almost impossible. Fit young men in the age group 18-30 with acceptable primary educational standards appeared indifferent to offers of secure employment in what we in the Service consider an attractive career.
17. Response to advertisements, both in Hong Kong and Britain, for direct recruitment into higher (and therefore better paid) ranks
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