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intermediate and advanced examinations are held. Recruitment drives continued successfully throughout 1974. Although the department remained under strength, especially at the officer level, there was a net increase of 714 in the strength.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department had one of its busiest years on record, answering 6,971 fire, 109,103 ambulance and 3,602 special service calls. Calling on experience gained in previous years, the department was able to cope satisfactorily with problems which arose when water restrictions were introduced in late September for a short time.
The two most prevalent causes of fire were careless disposal of lighted cigarette ends (1,685) and electrical faults (1,183)—or 41 per cent of all fires in Hong Kong during a year in which 25 people died and 384 were injured (33 firemen) as a result of fire.
Direct monetary loss from fire was estimated at about $50 million. Indirect losses, which are largely incalculable, are claimed by experts to be as much as three times the figure for direct losses.
The department continued its planned expansion programme which aims to keep pace with increasing urbanisation of the rural areas, and provide cover for urban areas with a high fire risk. During 1974, a new fire station was opened at Yau Ma Tei; at the end of the year there were 18 stations in various categories of the public works programme.
Ambulance Command
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The Ambulance Command is also expanding to meet continuously growing demands on its services. A depot was opened at Yau Ma Tei in March and another at Tsz Wan Shan in September, bringing the total to nine, and a further 11 are planned before the end of the decade. The ambulance fleet remained at 86 at the end of the year, although five ambulances were en route and an additional eight had been ordered for 1975. Modern facilities are provided on ambulances, and staff are now being trained to administer treatment to patients as soon as they are placed in an ambulance.
The number of calls dealt with by the command has been rising each year, and in 1974 there was a seven per cent increase. On several days, close to 400 calls were answered.
Fire Prevention Bureau
It was another busy year for the Fire Prevention Bureau, which carried out 176,530 inspections of schools, factories, residences, places of public entertainment, and restaurants. The number of complaints of all kinds investigated was 83,590, the majority concerned with means of escape. The bureau is required to lay down mini- mum fire protection requirements for new buildings and, during the year, a total of