was also disappointing, resulting in many 'key positions' remaining unfilled during the year.
18. In October 1962, a recruiting campaign was designed to coin- cide with Chinese New Year, when attractive posters and brochures were disseminated throughout the Colony. The press gave generously of space to feature articles, and frequent announcements were made over the radio and by Rediffusion. By 1st March, 1963, when the flow of candidates had dried up, the following analysis was available.
1. Number of Applicants
6,688
2. Number previously rejected but nevertheless re-processed 2,081
3. Number who failed physical standard 4. Number who withdrew applications
+44
3,177 1,290
5. Number who failed simple educational tests 6. Number accepted for full medical examination
1,770
451
Total ...
6,688
19. Although the response to the campaign will still leave the Service short by 135 recruits of the approved 1963-64 establishment and nearly 500 short of the estimated requirement for a 72 hour week, the results must be regarded as satisfactory, particularly when taking into account the competition with which the Service is faced.
20. Notwithstanding success on this occasion, so long as industry continues to expand, as we all hope it will, difficulties in recruiting relatively large numbers to a uniformed, disciplined force will remain an obstacle to essential development. The most satisfactory answer for the Fire Service may be found in a system of apprentice firemen recruited on ‘boys' service' direct from school and transferred to 'men's service' at 18 years of age.
21. The second and final major problem was, and still remains, the effect of traffic density during peak periods on 'time attendances' to fires and to a lesser degree, ambulance calls.
22. Practically every fire in pre-war buildings and many in post-war structures in Hong Kong involves a serious life risk, as is witnessed by the fact that in 1962, Fire Service personnel rescued more people by ladders and jumping sheets than did the combined total of some 146 Brigades in Britain during 1961.
23. Time of attendance to fires has been as much as 10-15 minutes on a journey which should have been completed in 3-5. The number
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