PUBLIC ORDER
Ambulance Service
155
The Fire Services Department operates the government ambulance service with a strength of 1 449 in all ranks of uniformed staff, and 107 civilian employees. The service operates 159 ambulances from 13 ambulance depots or stations throughout the territory and from many fire stations. During the year a total of 276 225 calls, involving 371 203 people, were handled - representing an average of 757 calls every 24 hours. This was an increase of 8.96 per cent in the number of calls compared with the total for 1981.
Appliances and Workshops
To enable fire fighting and rescue operations to be conducted in the most efficient manner, the Fire Services Department is equipped with nearly 700 operational fire appliances, ambulances and vehicles fitted with modern fire-fighting and rescue equipment.
In 1982, 180 new or replacement appliances and units of various kinds were brought into service. Among the major appliances commissioned were 10 16-metre hydraulic platforms, two 37-metre turntable ladders, two reserve heavy pumps, four major pumps, 64 ambulances and a mobile casualty treatment centre.
To maintain its fleet of fire appliances and rescue equipment, the department operates three workshops located on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories.
Training
All recruits except senior firemen and firewomen (control) are trained at the Fire Services Training School at Pat Heung in the New Territories. The courses vary in content and last from eight to 26 weeks. The first group of firewomen controllers to be recruited in the department's 114-year history graduated on January 23, 1982. The training of senior firemen and firewomen (control) is conducted at the Fire Services Communication Centre in Kowloon by instructors from the training school. During the year, at total of 560 successfully completed standard training: 57 station officers including two officers from Brunei, three ambulance officers, 26 senior firemen and firewomen (control), 257 firemen and 217 ambulancemen.
The school also conducted fire protection courses for senior station officers and station officers; ambulance refresher courses for ambulance other ranks personnel; and basic fire fighting, ship fire fighting and breathing apparatus courses for government departments and private organisations in Hong Kong and for the Macau Fire Brigade. Some 1 459 people attended these courses during the year. The Driving Training School in Wan Chai conducted driving training courses for 582 service members.
Establishment and Recruitment
The uniformed establishment of the Fire Services Department at the end of 1982 totalled 5 604. In addition, the number of civilian staff employed by the department increased by 40 to 558.
The services of 16 officers and 165 men were lost through death, retirement, resignation or dismissal during 1982. A number of recruitment exercises were held resulting in the appointment of 96 officers and 496 firemen and ambulancemen.
In view of various recruitment difficulties experienced and a large number of current vacancies to be filled, a new system for recruitment was introduced. A continuous year-round recruitment campaign was launched. The campaign attracted a total of 1 915 applications for officer posts, 7 571 for firemen posts. Standards required for both grades are high and on average only about 10 per cent of all applicants are accepted for appointment.