Right: Water gushes from mid-air during a Fire Services Department exercise.
The department is one of the world's finest fire brigades and responded to an average of 1 433 calls a day in 1998. Of the 37 846 fire calls received in 1998, 32 were classified as major fires of No. 3 alarm and above. Fires claimed 14 lives and 730, including 19 firemen, were injured. Fire Services personnel rescued 3 706 people.
Left: Civil Aid Service members practise a hazardous hillside rescue on one of Hong Kong's steeper slopes. The official auxiliary emergency service supports government departments in tackling emergencies. Below: Exercise time for members of the Hong Kong Police Airport Security Unit.